The Lagos State Government has given the reasons behind the demolition of some structures in parts of the state.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in the state, Oluyinka Olumide, made this known in an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday.
He claimed the houses were brought down by the government because the owner did not get any approval from the state agencies before building them.
He said the demolished buildings were not approved by any of its agencies, adding that the structures were rushed during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Olumide said, “We will not demolish any approved building, that’s for sure.
So, if there is anybody who claims that their buildings were approved and demolished, let them come forward.”
“Buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition.”
He stressed that illegal structures on the drainage system would be pulled down.
The commissioner, however, 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.
Meanwhile, Olumide has denied claims that the state government targeted homeowners from the South-East geopolitical zone, claiming that the allegations are false.
He continued: “Anybody can own a building in Lagos so long as you follow the laid-down rules. It’s unfortunate that maybe what we have done in recent times will 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 were at a low ebb because of restrictions on movement, and you could see that when those buildings were demolished, nobody has come forward to say they were demolished under approval.”
The commissioner assured residents of the state that the government won’t demolish any approved structure.(SaharaReporters)
