Lagos Govt Vows To Demolish More Buildings, Gives 7-day Quit Notice To Lekki Residents

Lagos State Government has vowed that more structures will go down amid controversies surrounding the demolition of buildings in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources in Lagos, Tokunbo Wahab, also issued a seven-day notice to owners of buildings along Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, along the Ikota River.

This announcement was made by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adesina, in a post on Monday in Lagos.

Wahab, in collaboration with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, declared the notice after inspecting the Ikota River corridor to assess the level of compliance by property owners.

The inspection aimed to ensure that buildings and fences adhered to the approved seven-meter setback on both sides of the channel.

The commissioner urged residents to respect the State Drainage Master Plan to avoid property demolition. He emphasized the state’s commitment to enforcing the law and reclaiming drainage setbacks after the expiration of issued notices.

Wahab highlighted the Nigerian Conservation Foundation’s petition, expressing concerns about distortions and damages to roads affecting the natural habitat of animals and drainage channels.

The commissioner mentioned that the setback alignment was reduced from seven meters to six meters after discussions with property owners to minimize the impact on structures.

He stressed the need for enforcement to address flooding caused by developers, builders, and residents.

Wahab expressed the government’s determination to uphold law and order for sustainable development, stating, “Without law and order, there cannot be development, enough of this bad behavior.”

The commissioner and his team visited various areas, including Oral Estate II, where illegal structures blocked the Primary Channel. Stop work orders were issued to a company at Chevron Drive for reducing the lagoon size, posing a threat to water flow. The team also supervised the demolition of shanties on Thompson Avenue to address security concerns.

Wahab emphasized the state’s commitment to ridding the environment of shanties and environmental infractions, urging squatters to relocate. The Special Adviser on Environment highlighted the state’s measures to combat flooding, including year-round cleaning, dredging, and drainage construction.

He called for citizens’ active participation in governance and collaboration between communities and government bodies to achieve improvements in environmental sanitation and sustainable development.

KanyiDaily recalls that forrmer Super Eagles footballer, Emmanuel Emenike had slammed the Lagos Government for demolishing the properties of Igbo residents in the State.