The Lagos State Government on Thursday commenced the demolition of illegal and unsafe buildings at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, as part of efforts to restore order and enforce urban planning regulations.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the development in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the exercise targeted:
- Structures built without statutory approvals
- Defective and unsafe buildings
- Developments erected on road setbacks and drainage channels
Gawat stressed that government agencies could no longer watch as unapproved constructions obstruct vital infrastructure and endanger public safety.
“The Lagos State Government has begun removal of illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals and defective structures, and structures built on road setbacks and drainages in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Local Government Area,” he said.
The joint operation involved the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.
Also present were members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Office of Infrastructure, and security agencies who provided enforcement support.
Bulldozers were seen pulling down marked structures while traders and shop owners looked on anxiously, worried about the impact on their livelihoods.
The Sanwo-Olu administration has repeatedly warned residents against erecting structures without approvals or blocking drainages, stressing that such violations fuel flooding, traffic congestion, and urban disorder in Lagos.
The demolition is part of a wider crackdown following the expiration of the state’s building amnesty programme, which allowed owners of unapproved structures to regularise their properties without penalty. With the grace period over, LASBCA has stepped up enforcement across the state.
However, past exercises have sparked backlash, with displaced residents claiming inadequate notice and compensation. In areas like Oworonshoki, residents lamented sudden demolitions that left them scrambling to save belongings.
Despite the controversy, the Lagos government insists the clean-up is necessary to protect infrastructure, reduce flooding risks, and enhance public safety in Africa’s most congested megacity.
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