Lagos pulls down illegal structures at Agege Abattoir

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
As part of the ongoing removal of illegal structures in the state, Lagos State Government, Sunday, commenced demolition of shanties and other illegal structures at Oko-Oba, Agege Abattoir, Lairage and animal market, which had served as hideout for miscreants and criminals.

Two weeks ago, the government issued an ultimatum to squatters at the abattoir to vacate the premises of the market or face prosecution.

The demolition, according to the government, was part of the effort to reduce the rate of contagious diseases and funds spent on health care.

A combined team of Police and military personnel, led by Superintendent of Police, Mr Bayo Sulaimon, Chairman of  Lagos State Government, Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, stormed the abattoir at about 5 a.m. with bulldozers and started dislodging squatters an illegal structures.

Sulaimon anchored the exercise on an executive order by Governor Babatunde Fashola on the need to transform the place in conformity with international standards.

He explained that the squatters were duly warned through their leaders and various stakeholders’ meetings to vacate the premises, but some of them remained adamant, hence their forceful ejection.

He, however, stated that the operation had been a success as most of the squatters cooperated with men of the task force on ground.

“The place is a government property. The state government is ready to slam the law on any defaulter,” Sulaimon stated.

During the exercise their was a slight altercation between Sulaimon and the Auditor of the market, Alhaji Muhammed Gomi, on the need to spare some structures till today because their occupants were not around.

and there were huge sums of money in those structures said to belong to various cattle dealers in the market.

Special Adviser on Abattoir to Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Hon Salisu Jikamtoro pleaded with the state government to speed up the renovation plans so that the displaced persons could continue their businesses.

He said some of their members were agitated because of fear that they might not get their slots back at affordable rates when completed.

“We know that government has good intention about this renovation and not a plan to send us to the North as being spread around by some elements here. We therefore beg government not to delay the completion for too long,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Mr. Kolapomoye Ajiboso had explained that removing the illegal structurest was the only way the state government could give the place a face lift that wouldl make the place compete with other abattoirs in other parts of the world.