Lagos State government yesterday started the demolition of gated streets across the state. This followed the expiration of the ultimatum to all streets to leave their gates open till midnight each day. Worried by the safety risks and the gridlock which the practice generates, government had ordered all streets to leave their gates open between 5a.m. and midnight so that motorists could navigate through them.
It was learnt that government has earmarked 62 gated streets for demolition, out of which 28 gates were demolished yesterday in Ajeromi-Ifelodun area of Lagos. Government officials escorted by men of the Task Force on Environment and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit stormed Ajeromi- Ifelodun yesterday and demolished 28 gated streets which were locked against motorists.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, noted that the removal of the gated streets had to be done after a series of awareness campaign by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs on the need to adhere strictly to the directives.
Quadri added that stakeholders’ meetings were held with executive members of the Community Development Committees (CDCs), Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the executive secretaries of the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs to ensure that they were all involved in government policies and directives.
He said: “There is need to remove all the gated streets and barricades due to noncompliance of the residents to the opening hours of 5a.m. to midnight and to be effectively manned from midnight to 5a.m. by security personnel who must always be on ground to open these gates in case of any emergency.
