By Mariam Adams
The Kogi State Government has commenced a major enforcement operation across the Lokoja metropolis, demolishing illegal structures and taking decisive action against activities considered to be in violation of environmental, sanitation and physical planning regulations.
The exercise followed a public warning by the government directing residents, traders, shop owners, property owners and other members of the public to desist from activities capable of compromising environmental cleanliness, obstructing public spaces or undermining public safety and order.
The enforcement operation is being jointly conducted by officials of the Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, the Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board and the Town Planning Authority.
The agencies have been moving across identified locations within the metropolis to enforce compliance with environmental and physical planning regulations and reclaim public spaces that have been encroached upon.
During the exercise, structures described by government officials as illegal and erected on public spaces or areas reserved for environmental and infrastructural purposes were demolished.
Other environmental and planning violations were also addressed as the enforcement teams intensified efforts to restore order and ensure that public spaces are used for their designated purposes.
Government officials explained that the affected structures were erected in contravention of approved planning requirements, stressing that the enforcement action was necessary to protect public infrastructure, preserve the environment and prevent indiscriminate development within the state capital.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Hon. Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun Stephen, said the government was determined to restore environmental discipline and ensure strict compliance with established laws and regulations.
He stressed that the exercise was not targeted at any individual, community or group, but was part of the government’s broader responsibility to protect public spaces, maintain environmental standards and safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of residents.
According to him, the government would continue to engage relevant agencies and stakeholders to address environmental challenges while ensuring that Lokoja develops in a clean, orderly and sustainable manner.
The Commissioner urged traders, shop owners, property owners and residents to comply with government directives and avoid erecting structures or conducting activities that obstruct roads, drainage channels, public infrastructure and other designated spaces.
He also called for greater public cooperation, noting that effective environmental management could not be achieved through government enforcement alone without the support and compliance of residents.
He said sustained enforcement, public enlightenment and inter-agency collaboration would remain central to the administration’s efforts to build a cleaner, safer and more orderly Lokoja metropolis.
The government indicated that the enforcement exercise would continue in other identified locations as the relevant agencies intensify monitoring and compliance activities across the metropolis.
Meanwhile, some affected persons appealed to the government to consider their circumstances and provide adequate notice for them to vacate the affected areas.
They also appealed for government assistance in identifying suitable alternative locations where affected traders could relocate their businesses and continue their livelihoods without violating environmental and physical planning regulations.
The development has further highlighted the need for a balance between effective enforcement of environmental laws, protection of public spaces and the provision of appropriate relocation options for businesses affected by government urban renewal and environmental interventions.
