The Lagos State government has stated that due process was followed in the demolition of shanties and other unapproved structures in the Oworonshoki area of the state, as property owners disregarded notices and amnesty opportunities to regularise their buildings.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban and Regional Planning, Gbolahan Oki, said this during a press briefing.
Oki, who provided evidence of the notices served and meetings with stakeholders, said that the residents were given enough time to obtain planning permits during the state government’s amnesty programme for unapproved buildings.
He added that the amnesty began with a 90-day window from May 2024 to July 2024, which was extended to October 2024 and finally to December 2024.
According to him, despite the government’s efforts to encourage landlords and property owners to comply with building permits, only two or three landlords took advantage of the amnesty, and their buildings were not demolished. “but others ignored all warnings,” Oki stated.
He further stated that officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), along with community leaders and traditional leaders, engaged with the residents through meetings and sensitisation before the demolition.
Oki said that most of the demolished buildings were distressed, blocking drainage channels and posing security threats.
He added that some tilted backwards and had visible cracks or were only patched with paint to look safe.
Oki said: “The government cannot allow people to live in houses that are not fit for habitation. We are now insisting that every property in Lagos must have a certificate of fitness for habitation.”
According to the permanent secretary, obtaining a planning permit now takes 10 to 15 days once the necessary documents are submitted.
He noted that the office issuing the permit had been decentralised to all local government areas, adding that the demolitions were not carried out in secret.
A three-minute video showing marked buildings and community meetings at Oworonshoki was presented during the interaction.
Oki said that the demolition was necessary to safeguard lives, improve drainage and enhance security in the area.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government granted a three-phase amnesty between May 2024 and December 2024 for owners of unapproved buildings to regularise their documents.
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