Lagos Begins Demolition of Illegal Structures in Ikeja GRA

The Lagos State Government has commenced demolition exercise in Ikeja GRA, targeting illegal structures, including shanties and unapproved buildings, due to security and planning concerns.

The exercise, led by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Gbolahan Oki, aims to restore safety, order, and proper urban planning in the area.

The demolition team, which began its operation on Saturday, focused on areas violating building regulations, including streets such as Michael Otedola, Sowemimo, Remi Fani-Kayode, and Ajisafe. Unauthorised stalls and altered buildings were pulled down, while property owners with valid approvals but who had violated terms by converting structures were also targeted.

According to Oki, some property owners had obtained valid approvals but had violated the terms by converting structures, such as turning four flats into eight, thereby straining infrastructure and distorting the urban plan.

This, he said, had led to complaints from residents about abnormalities in the construction process.

“We began enforcement from 9:00 a.m. today and visited many construction sites. Most of them actually have valid approvals, and even the buildings assumed not to conform, do, in fact, meet the required standards.

“However, some people get approval for four flats but turn them into eight, or they have approval to build a duplex but they convert it. This puts a heavy burden on public infrastructure,”Oki stated.

Oki explained that the LASBCA had earlier issued letters to all property owners in Ikeja GRA, requesting the submission of building approvals for verification.

The enforcement exercise, he said, followed adequate notice and engagement with stakeholders, and was aimed at removing shanties, makeshift stalls, and unauthorised structures linked to illegal activities.

A resident and community leader, Mr. Tunde Disu, expressed support for the government’s intervention, describing it as long overdue. He noted that the spread of illegal structures had worsened security concerns and hampered effective surveillance by both private security teams and the police. Disu also said that the residents’ association would collaborate with agencies such as the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to clean up the neighbourhood and hold violators accountable.

The Lagos State Government has clarified that not all buildings without approval would be brought down immediately. Instead, property owners would be given a chance to correct planning infractions and regularise their developments.

However, demolition exercises would proceed in cases where structures pose a risk to public safety, such as those erected under high-tension power lines, on pipelines, across drainage channels, or within designated rights of way.