The Kogi State Government has demolished shanties and illegal structures harbouring hoodlums and criminals around Ganaja flyover bridge in Lokoja the state capital.
The State’s Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Oluwasegun Joseph, led other officials of the ministry on the demolition exercise on Thursday in Lokoja.
The commissioner told newsmen after the demolition that the exercise was part of the commitment of His Excellency, Gov Ahmed Ododo, to ensure security of life and property in Lokoja metropolis and its environs.
Joseph emphasised that the demolished structures were illegally erected which had become habitats for hoodlums and criminals in the confluence city, hence the need for the demolition.
“As you can see, the erected structures are illegal. We have been here on three different occasions warning them to remove them but they refused.
“It is a new dawn in the state; scavengers and hoodlums will no longer be tolerated in Lokoja metropolis and its environs.
“The illegal structures are harbouring hoodlums and criminals, hence the need to take this decisive action by the state government.
“They are threat to the peace and security of Lokoja metropolis, its environs and the state at large, ” Joseph said.
The commissioner stressed that the government under the leadership of his Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman would not tolerate scavengers and hoodlums within Lokoja metropolis or any part of the state.
Joseph added: “If we allowed these kind of illegal structures in Lokoja metropolis, the rate of insecurity will increase. We will demolish them anywhere we find them”.
Also Speaking, Abdullahi Yusuf, the Ag. General Manager, Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board, said the occupants of the shanties had been served on several occasions but remained adamant.
“We have marked and served them notice severally but they have refused to move, so I am happy that the commissioner is matching his words with action.
“The illegal structures were erected in the heart of the town within the 16km radius, which should not be allowed to remain there.
“This will serve as deterrent to other defaulters, and the action will continue because we are not going to condone any act of illegality in the state.
“The green belts in Lokoja have also been occupied illegally and we will go after them to remove them and pull down the illegal structures.
In the same vein, the commissioner and his team also evacuated all illegal occupants under the newly constructed Ganaja flyover bridge, Lokoja.
The commissioner warned hoodlums and scavengers against loitering around or under the bridge, stressing that defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
According to him, prohibited ctivities under the Ganaja flyover include: no trading, staying, resting, loitering, no parking of any vehicle and no dumping of refuse.
In the commissioner’s entourage were the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Jibrin Saidu; Ag. General Manager, Sanitation Board; Director Sanitation, Mr Vincent Falodun, among others.
