Lagos government demolishes properties illegally constructed. The Lagos State government has started a wave of demolitions in Ikota, on the Lekki axis of the state.
Buildings on drainage setbacks along the Ikota drainage canal were destroyed on Wednesday, which marked the start of the exercise.
According to the information obtained, the individuals who owned the affected properties had received a number of violation letters well over twenty years prior.
Similar buildings in the Gedegede area of Lekki Phase 2 were also impacted.
Due to the constant rain, residents of the state have seen more severe flooding in recent months. As a result, there were fatalities and property damage.
On October 8, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave those who had built unauthorized stores in some of the state’s flooded districts, as well as businesses and market stalls on drainages, a week to vacate.
The demolition highlighted the seriousness of the Sanwo-Olu administration about law and order, according to Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources.
According to Wahab, who was represented by Mahmood Adegbite, the Director of Drainage Enforcement and Compliance, “when all the structures were at the foundation level in the year 2000, violation letters were sent to the property owners.”
The setback of the waterway was sand-filled in advance of adding further structures, but they “proved recalcitrant and rebuffed all measures suggested by the government to prevent flooding,” he said.
In order to prevent a similar type of demolition, Wahab advised potential property owners to work with the authorities and obtain information before starting any building projects.