Following the ongoing controversy surrounding the demolition of houses in Lagos state, the government has disclosed that the buildings which were taken down did not receive approval from any of its agencies.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the state, Oluyinka Olumide, during an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday, November 29, stated that the structures were hurriedly built during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
He challenged any of the owners of the demolished structures in the Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, Ladipo Market and other areas of the state to come forward with 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
The official said the structures were never approved of by any of the government agencies vested with such powers, stressing that illegal structures on the drainage system would be pulled down.
“Buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition” Olumide noted
On claims in certain quarters that the state government has been targeting home owners who are from the South-East geopolitical zone, the commissioner said those were not true.
“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.” he said.
The commissioner assured residents of the state that the government won’t demolish any approval structure.
