Navy, LASG give mechanics under marine Bridge 48hrs ultimatum in bid to clean up Apapa

The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Nigerian Navy’s Western Naval Command, has commenced a comprehensive environmental clean-up exercise in Apapa and its surrounding areas, with officials declaring the initiative as a long-term collaborative effort.

The clean-up, which began on Friday and continued into Saturday, targeted locations such as Mobil Road and Marine Beach Under Bridge. During the operation, several environmental infractions were identified and addressed, including the removal of shanties, which were carted away using trucks from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Engr. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, described the initiative as a strategic collaboration between the Lagos State Government and the Navy. He said the effort is aimed at improving the well-being of residents by restoring order and cleanliness in the area.

Rotimi-Akodu highlighted issues such as unauthorized occupancy by motor boys sleeping in parked trucks, roadside trading, and indiscriminate activities by mechanics as major contributors to the environmental degradation in Apapa. He said the team visited motor parks and workshops where they discovered multiple environmental violations and vowed that the clean-up would be sustained.

In a bid to enforce compliance, operators of mechanic workshops located under the Marine Beach Bridge were issued a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate the area. The Special Adviser also emphasized that sleeping in motor parks, trading of alcohol, and erection of shanties violate state environmental sanitation laws.

He called on residents and stakeholders to support the ongoing efforts, stating that government action alone cannot achieve a sustainable environment.

Rear Admiral Micheal Oamen, Flag Officer Commanding the Western Naval Command, reiterated the Navy’s commitment to the initiative, calling it a model of civil-military engagement. He noted that the Navy considers Apapa its home base and is therefore invested in maintaining its cleanliness and orderliness.

“The Navy started in Apapa, and it remains a critical area for us. We are proud to partner with the Lagos State Government to rid the area of all forms of environmental infractions,” Oamen said.

Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Honourable Idowu Senbanjo, expressed gratitude to both the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Navy. He assured them of the local government’s continued support for initiatives aimed at improving the area’s sanitation and public health.

The clean-up exercise was carried out by a high-level team including the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatubosun Cole (Rtd); General Manager, LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi; and other senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and its agencies.