The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Bolaji Oreagba, has revealed that LASTMA, in conjunction with the Nigerian Port Authority has embarked on a seven-day clean-up exercise to tackle environmental degradation in the Apapa area of the state.

Oreagba, in a statement by the agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Taofiq Adebayo, said the clean-up exercise which he noted would help stop environmental degradation, began after the expiration of notices served on owners of illegal shanties, kiosks, containerised shops and abandoned trucks in Apapa and its environs.

The GM added that the clean-up exercise would last for seven days, stressing that the intervention began over the weekend with the demolition of several illegal shanties, kiosks, and containerised shops, towing of abandoned trucks and dismantling of illegal garages.

“All abandoned trucks from the Nigerian Port’s first gate down to the underneath of the Lilypond Bridge constituting environmental nuisance were all towed by the team. The area is becoming a breeding ground for miscreants who daily extort money from innocent motorists and impede the free flow of traffic.”He said.

Adebayo said the General Manager of Security for the NPA, Mohammed Khalil, hinted that the clean-up exercise on all environmental degradation in Apapa and its environs was long overdue.

He maintained that the NPA had been doing radio jingles and enlightenment campaigns to educate members of the public on the need for the clean-up exercise.

Adebayo added that officials of relevant agencies of government involved during the commencement of the clean-up exercise included policemen attached to the Lagos State Ports Command, OP MESA and Federal Road Safety Corps.