The Lagos State Government has denied allegations of
ethnic victimisation in the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at the Trade
Fair Complex, insisting that the exercise is based strictly on urban
planning laws.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief
on Thursday, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide
Oluyinka, described the claims as false.
“That is not true. We have been to Owode Onirin,
Idumota, and Ikeja. It has no ethnic colouration. The fact is that we just have
to do our work. There is nothing ethnic here; it is purely technical,” he said.
Oluyinka added that similar enforcement actions had
been carried out across Lagos, including sensitive areas on Lagos Island.
Illegal Leasing, Poor Planning
The commissioner accused the Trade Fair Management
of worsening the situation by leasing land to private developers without
following due process.
“What we saw was land being leased to third parties
who brought in their own consultants and contractors to build without recourse
to the law,” Oluyinka explained.
He cited unsafe designs within the complex, including a three-storey building
just two feet from the road kerb, with shop doors opening directly onto the
road.
‘Defaulters Had Ample Notice’
Oluyinka dismissed claims that property owners were
caught unawares, saying defaulters had over a year’s notice to regularise their
structures.
“I led a team there in March 2024. Between then and
now is over a year and a half. Our officers even faced harassment and detention
while trying to serve notices. So, it’s not new to them that we were coming,”
he said.
He lamented the poor state of infrastructure at the
complex, describing its condition as “a shame” and stressing that the
government was duty-bound to sanitise the area.
Demolition Exercise
The demolition, which began on September 25, is
being carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning in collaboration
with the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Urban Renewal
Agency, and the Physical Planning Permit Authority.
Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirmed in a post on X that the
operation targeted “illegal developments, structures without statutory
approvals, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and
drainages.”
Officials from the Office of Infrastructure, members
of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and security agencies were also on ground
to monitor and provide support.
Wider Crackdown
The demolitions come two weeks after Lagos suspended
all reclamation projects across the state over environmental risks.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, warned
that uncontrolled reclamation on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoons was
exposing the state’s fragile ecosystem to grave consequences.
Affected areas include Parkview, Banana Island,
Osborne, Ikoyi, Victoria Island Extension, Lekki, Ajah, Oworonshoki, and parts
of Ikorodu.
Comments:
Leave a Reply