In its efforts to change the ambience of the environment along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Ogun State government is set to demolish all structures that fall within the 70- metre setback along the route.

It said the structures to be demolished are shanties, markets, motor-parks and fuel stations.Besides, the government said it would, beginning from next week, remove all abandoned trucks, trailers and other damaged vehicles along the road.

This was disclosed yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting the government held with representatives of towns, villages and religious organisations located along the road. According to the Commissioner for Forestry, Mr. Kolawole Lawal: “We want to achieve sanity on the road, to ensure that our people have good lives and that they have an environment that is attractive and be proud of.”

Lawal, who spoke at the meeting in Abeokuta, assured that owners of the structures with approved plan by the government would be compensated.He noted that the project, which includes pedestrian walkway, planting of trees, flowers and grass, would be executed on the state-owned 15-20 metres out of the 70-metre setback, while the remaining 45 to 50-metre setback belongs to the Federal Government.

Earlier in his welcome address, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the government was not happy with the current situation of the road, especially the huge junk of refuse on it, disclosing that the Kara market along the route would be relocated to Ogere area of the state.He noted that previous efforts by government to change the situation did not yield the desired results; hence, the need to execute the project.

His words: “We have been dealing with individuals, market people, among others, in the past to bring about sanity on the road but we were not seeing the desired results and that is why we have designed this programme that will deal with everybody.”