Lagos Commissioner Denies Demolition Is Aimed At Igbo People
The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, has dismissed the allegations that the ongoing demolition by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is aimed at South-Easterners.
Olumide said that the demolished buildings in the state were illegal structures that were built without approval from any of the state’s agencies, and they were hastily constructed during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
He stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday.
There have been unverified claims on social media that the demolition is targeting people from the south-eastern part of Nigeria.
When the anchor asked him whether the demolitions were aimed at South Easterners as being speculated, he said, “Anyone can own building in Lagos as long as you follow the laid-down rules. It’s unfortunate that maybe what we have of recent happens 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 are 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 were demolished under approval.”
Olumide challenged any of the owners of the demolished structures to come forward with their building approvals.
“We will not demolish any approved building, that’s for sure. So, if there is anyone that has claims that their buildings were approved and demolished, let them come forward,” Olumide said.
He stressed that illegal structures on the drainage system would be pulled down.
“Buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition,” Olumide noted.
PRISTINEGIST reported in October that the Lagos State government announced the removal of perimeter fences within two metres of drainage channels on the Norman Williams, Awolowo and Ribadu roads in the Ikoyi area of the state.
PRISTINEGIST also reports that the Lagos State government may demolish illegal structures on the drainage system in the Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, and Oral Estate II along the Ikota River of the state on Monday.
