The Lagos State Government has commenced the demolition of illegal structures and shanties at the International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, in a renewed effort to restore order and ensure compliance with urban planning laws.
The exercise, which began in the early hours of Thursday, was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), and security operatives who provided backup to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Authorities explained that the operation followed several months of notices served to occupants and traders, warning them to vacate unapproved structures and adhere to safety standards. Many of the affected buildings were said to have encroached on walkways, obstructed access roads, and posed serious risks to lives and property.
Speaking during the exercise, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, said the government was determined to sanitize the area and make the complex more accessible for legitimate business.
“We cannot continue to allow indiscriminate construction and lawlessness. The Trade Fair Complex is meant to be an organized commercial hub, not a haven for shanties and unsafe structures. Traders were given ample time and notice to comply before enforcement began,” Oki stated.
While some traders expressed relief that the clean-up would bring sanity and improve business operations, others lamented their losses, accusing the government of being insensitive. “Many of us depend on these shops to feed our families. They should have given us more time or provided alternatives,” one shop owner said.
The government, however, assured that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting but at safeguarding lives, enhancing trade efficiency, and ensuring the complex remains a viable economic hub for Lagos State.
The demolition is expected to continue in phases until all illegal developments within the Trade Fair Complex and its environs are cleared.
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