The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has defended its demolition of shanties and unapproved buildings at Oworonshoki, insisting that the exercise followed due process and that residents were given ample opportunity to comply with regulations.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday evening, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, explained that the affected structures had been marked and served demolition notices.
He said the state government had granted a three-phase amnesty programme between May and December 2024, giving property owners time to regularise their documents. The initiative began with a 90-day window from May to July, was extended to October, and finally concluded in December.
“Only two or three persons in that community took advantage of the amnesty, and those buildings were not demolished. Others ignored all warnings,” Oki stated.
Oki stressed that LASBCA did not carry out the demolitions in secrecy. He explained that officials engaged the community through meetings and sensitisation campaigns with the involvement of traditional and community leaders.
During the press briefing, a three-minute video showing marked buildings and meetings with residents was presented to newsmen by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Oki, most of the demolished structures were distressed and posed serious risks to lives and property.
He also added that some tilted backwards and had visible cracks, while others were only patched with paint to look safe.
“The government cannot allow people to live in houses that are not fit for habitation,” he said.
He added that many of the illegal buildings obstructed drainage channels and created security concerns.
“We are now insisting that every property in Lagos must have a certificate of fitness for habitation,” Oki declared.
Oki noted that obtaining planning permits has been simplified, with processing now taking between 10 and 15 days once the necessary documents are submitted. He also said that permit offices have been decentralised across all local government areas for easier access.
The permanent secretary recalled that during the 2024 amnesty programme, a total of 18,489 applications were submitted, out of which 8,856 planning permits were issued.
He emphasised that the demolitions at Oworonshoki were part of broader efforts to safeguard lives, improve drainage, and enhance security across Lagos.
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