By Joy Yesufu
The Lagos State Government on Thursday began demolition of illegal and unsafe structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, as part of its ongoing clampdown on unapproved developments across the state.
The Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the exercise in a post on X, noting that the operation targeted “illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages.”
According to him, the government could no longer fold its arms while such structures obstruct critical infrastructure, worsen flooding, and endanger lives.
The demolition, carried out by a combined team from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, was supported by the Office of Infrastructure, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and security operatives who provided backup.
Bulldozers were seen pulling down marked buildings, while some traders and shop owners watched anxiously, expressing concerns over the impact on their businesses.
The Sanwo-Olu administration has repeatedly warned residents against constructing buildings without approvals or blocking drainage channels, stressing that such infractions contribute to flooding, traffic congestion, and disorder in Lagos.
Officials noted that the enforcement followed the expiration of the state’s building amnesty programme, which allowed owners of unapproved or irregular buildings to regularise their structures without penalty. The programme, extended several times, recently closed, paving the way for stricter enforcement.
“The removal of these structures is part of the state’s efforts to safeguard infrastructure, reduce flooding, and restore urban order in one of the most congested cities in Africa,” Gawat said.
However, past exercises of this nature have triggered backlash, with affected residents and traders alleging inadequate notice, loss of property, and insufficient relocation support.
The latest operation at the Trade Fair Complex is expected to continue in phases, as authorities intensify their campaign against unsafe and illegal constructions across Lagos.
