Lagos State Government demolishes Apapa Amusement Park

Chairman of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, Mr. Bayo Suleiman

The Lagos State government via the Enforcement unit of State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences on Sunday closed down the Apapa Amusement Park.

The task force also demolished about 44 illegal structures within the park.

The state government explained that it decided to shut down the park and demolished the structures based on security concerns.

The chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Bayo Suleiman, who led the operation, said the action was taken to return the park to its former glory.

The taskforce on Sunday morning came with bulldozers, which was used to pull down about 44 buildings, including a building housing the Redeemed Christian Church of God located beside the Park.

The bulldozer commenced demolition of the structures at about 10:00am bringing down every wall to pieces from its foundation.

Mr. Suleiman said that those who were handed the management of the park had converted some of its section to burial grounds for their dead relatives. He also said there was growing concerns about the security of the place, noting that the state government will not compromise its security policy.

“There is no way government would have come here to bury someone here, some of the properties have even been bought and they cut off some parts of the land and sell it off. There is also growing concerns of security. The government will not compromise its security policy.” Mr. Suleiman stated.

Managing Director of Parkway Ride and Services Limited, manager of the Apapa Amusement Park, Mrs. Mac Authur said the state government only gave them a 48-hour notice, saying there was no justification for the state government’s action.

She explained that the Park was established in 1975, but that she only took charge of the Park in 1994 following the demise of the initial manager of the park.

“I Am interested in Fashola’s government but am disappointed because I did not expect this kind of action from them. I was thinking they would call us and talk to us, when I got the notice that they want to demolish this place on Friday, we packed ourselves to Alausa to beg for more time to pack our belongings out, but they vehemently refused.

“At least, I expected them to give me time, how about my workers, I cannot sent them away without incentives,” she lamented.

Lawyer to Authur, Mr. Frank Eke said the management of the park would go to court to seek redress against the government.

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