The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to individuals and businesses encroaching on the designated road and rail corridor along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. The warning, which came through a public notice, calls for the immediate cessation of unauthorized activities along the 69.1-kilometer stretch of the expressway, which is crucial for the ongoing and future infrastructure development in the region.
The corridor, reserved as a Right of Way (RoW) measuring 94 meters in width, has been earmarked for a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul. The planned developments include a three-lane dual carriageway, pedestrian bridges, drainage systems, and rail tracks for the green-line rail network. It also accommodates essential services like gas pipelines. The Lagos State Government has emphasized that this area is vital for the city’s long-term urban development goals.
According to the public notice, which was signed by Oluwole Sotire, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, the RoW is expected to be expanded at key intersections to make room for proposed rail stations and interchanges. As such, the state government has directed that all encroachments within the corridor be removed in order to ensure uninterrupted progress in the infrastructure development.
The Lagos State Government has stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the RoW to avoid hindering future expansion projects. With the state’s ambitious T.H.E.M.E.S (Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st-century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance) agenda, preserving these corridors is seen as key to accommodating the growing population and enhancing the overall urban experience.
Developers and property owners along the Lekki-Epe Expressway are urged to immediately verify the status of their properties with the state’s physical planning office to ensure compliance with urban planning laws. Failure to do so may result in enforcement actions, including the demolition of unauthorized structures, as stipulated under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law.
The Lagos State Government has called for the cooperation of all stakeholders to protect this critical public infrastructure space. By ensuring that the RoW is free from encroachments, the state aims to create an efficient, modern transportation system that will serve the growing needs of Lagos residents in the years to come.
