Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, embarked on an unscheduled five-hour working tour of riverine communities in the state on Tuesday.
Accompanied by Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of the state, and members of the state executive council, Sanwo-Olu visited Ibeshe, Kare, and Inagbe communities bordering Ilashe to survey unapproved structures violating physical planning regulations.
The governor inspected illegal developments along the coastline and assessed key infrastructure projects.
Sanwo-Olu expressed dissatisfaction with the chaotic and disjointed developments along the coastal corridor, warning violators to desist from expanding businesses into unauthorised areas.
“We are bringing order and repossession to redefine livelihoods in these communities,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“There has been blatant abuse of physical planning approvals and encroachment beyond ocean bank, violating safety regulations.”
He announced that the ministry of physical planning and urban development, alongside the Lagos state building control agency (LASBCA), will conduct a comprehensive enumeration of violations to inform final decisions on the issue.
“Our final decision would be inclusive of how we will regularise, give title and ensure that the locals are not at disadvantage,” he said.
“We will ensure that life is returned to this neighbourhood to boost the tourism potential along this whole stretch. The government will be a strong enabler for these opportunities to happen.”
During the tour, Sanwo-Olu handed over a 30 megavolt-ampere electric transformer station in Ilashe to EKO Disco, urging the power company to connect local homes to the national grid to support the growing tourism industry.
The governor also met with traditional rulers of the coastal communities to discuss plans for environmental improvements, enhanced security, and expanded healthcare access.(The Cable)
