The Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has said that the decision of the government to remove inner street gates in the Lekki area of the state was taken in the interest of residents of the area.

The commissioner hinted that the gates would be returned to the area after an agreement has been reached on modalities for re-installing them.

Wahab, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Tuesday at Alausa, told members of the Lekki Residents Association that “the decision had to be taken because the state government has the responsibility of regulating operations in Lekki I, a government scheme.”

While noting that the action was regrettable, a statement on Wednesday quoted Wahab as saying that “all the removed gates are intact and would be returned to the various zones of the residents association immediately after an amicable agreement is reached on modalities for re-installing the gates.”

The commissioner stressed that part of the agreement must include “a provision that the gates cannot be shut before midnight and must have personnel manning them to ensure seamless entry and exit for all residents.”

Also speaking, the transport commissioner, Osiyemi, said the meeting was not to apportion blame but to ensure that if the streets were to be gated, all laid down rules and regulations must be abided with.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Lekki Residents Association, Mr Yomi Idowu, appealed to the government to reconsider the decision to remove all the street gates.