The Lagos State Government has begun the removal of illegal structures along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway in a bid to improve traffic flow and enhance environmental conditions along the busy route. The clearance operations were confirmed by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a statement he shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
According to Wahab, the exercise started at Alakija in the Amuwo-Odofin area and has been moving steadily westward along the expressway. Enforcement teams have already reached Iyana Iba and were reported to be operating opposite the Lagos State University (LASU) before moving into the Alaba Market area in Ojo Local Government.
The operation was carried out by officers from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Agency (LAGESC) working with other enforcement units under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. The government said that clearing these unauthorised structures would help to decongest the expressway, reduce chaos on the roadside and ensure that the road can be used safely by motorists and pedestrians alike.
This move is part of a broader series of enforcement activities that have taken place across Lagos in recent months. Similar clearance operations were carried out on Jakande Coastal Road, and enforcement teams also took action against beggars along the Lekki-Epe Expressway late last year.
State officials stressed that the effort forms part of the ongoing commitment to improve urban planning standards, uphold environmental laws and address longstanding challenges related to traffic gridlock and roadside obstructions. By removing illegal buildings and encroachments, the government hopes vehicles will move more freely and the risk posed by makeshift stalls and structures will be reduced.
Residents and commuters who rely on the Lagos–Badagry Expressway have welcomed the action, saying that clearing roadside blockages could make daily journeys faster and less stressful. Some have long complained that traders and unauthorised constructions along the roadside cause dangerous congestion and disrupt the flow of traffic.
The state government has not yet announced how long the operation will last, but officials reaffirm that it will continue until the expressway is free of all illegal obstructions.
