The Lagos State Government has marked several makeshift structures and illegally developed buildings in Otu-Mara, Mainland LGA, for demolition due to security concerns and structural hazards.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Public Affairs, Adu Ademuyiwa. According to the statement, the affected structures had become hideouts for criminals and posed significant safety risks due to their deteriorating condition.
Government’s Urban Regeneration Efforts
The statement emphasized that the demolition aligns with the government’s commitment to urban regeneration, sustainable development, and mitigating environmental and security risks.
Images shared on LASBCA’s official X (formerly Twitter) account showed wooden and cement structures in poor condition, with some buildings constructed dangerously close to a bridge.
LASBCA General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, stated that due process was followed before marking the structures for demolition. All statutory notices, including Convention and Quit notices, were served to the affected occupants. However, the exact timeline for evacuation was not specified.
Public Safety and Compliance
Oki stressed that removing the illegal structures was crucial for public safety, as many were structurally unsound and served as criminal hideouts, endangering residents and surrounding communities. He warned that non-compliance with the evacuation notice would lead to strict enforcement measures.
Crackdown on Illegal Structures
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing building regulations and intensifying monitoring efforts to maintain order in the built environment.
LASBCA urged property owners and developers to desist from erecting unauthorized structures, emphasizing that makeshift settlements contribute to environmental hazards and urban disorganization. The agency also warned that violations of building laws would not be tolerated and that legal consequences could follow for those who fail to comply with demolition orders.
