Lagos says demolition of ‘illegal buildings’ not targeted at any ethnic group

The Lagos government has debunked allegations that the demolition exercise in the state is targeted at a particular ethnic group.

In October, the Lagos government ordered the demolition of illegal buildings erected on water canals and drainages.

Recently, there have been comments on social media alleging that the demolition was targeted at people from the south-eastern part of Nigeria.

Speaking on Wednesday on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Oluyinka Olumide, the Lagos commissioner for physical planning and urban development, said the demolished structures were hastily completed during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Olumide asked the owners of the affected structures in the Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, Ladipo market and other areas of the state to provide their building approvals.

“We will not demolish any approved building, that is for sure. So, if there is anybody that has claims that their buildings were approved and demolished, let them come forward,” Olumide said.

“Buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition.

“Anybody can own a building in Lagos, so long as you go with the laid-down rules. It is unfortunate that maybe what we have of recent happened to 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 the low ebb because of restriction of movement and you could see that when those buildings were demolished, nobody has come forward to say they are demolished under approval.”

Olumide assured residents that the state government would not demolish any approved structure.