Lagos Govt Justifies Demolition Of Building In State

The Lagos State Government has emphasized that the demolished buildings within the state were not authorized by any of its agencies. According to Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, these structures were hastily constructed during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

VerseNews reports that Olumide in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program challenged the owners of the demolished structures in various areas of the state, including Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, and Ladipo Market, to provide their building approvals.

“We will not demolished any approved building, that’s for sure. So, if there is anybody that has claims that their buildings were approved and demolished, let them come forward,” Olumide said.

He further emphasized that these structures were never sanctioned by any government agencies with the authority to do so. Additionally, he stressed that illegal structures situated on the drainage system would be dismantled.

“Buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition,” Olumide noted.

The commissioner refuted claims made by some that the state government has been singling out homeowners from the South-East geopolitical zone. He stated that these allegations were unfounded.

He said, “Anybody can own building in Lagos so long as you go with the laid-down rules. It’s unfortunate that maybe what we have of recent happen to concern those from certain parts of the country.”

“Those buildings causing this uproar are buildings rushed during the COVID period when activities of enforcement officers are at the low ebb because of restriction of movement and you could see that when those buildings were demolished, nobody has come forward to say they are demolished under approval.”

The state commissioner provided reassurance to the residents that the government will not demolish any approved structures.