The Lagos State Government has noted that the recent demolition of dilapidated buildings in Ojo Local Council’s Alaba International Market wasn’t done to witch-hunt anyone or buy land; rather, it was done to protect lives.
With accusations of a witch hunt against a specific ethnic group in Lagos state, the exercise that was conducted last month has caused a lot of controversy.
This information was provided by the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, during an on-site evaluation of the demolition site on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
Along with Mr. Kehinde Osinaike, his counterpart at the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, and the seven-member committee set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the aftermath of the demolition exercise, Oki visited the market during a downpour.
Mr. Oluwole Sotire, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, led the group on the visit.
Oki clarified during the on-site evaluation that the demolition was simply done to enforce building laws and regulations to stop building collapse.
He stated that the majority of the demolished structures lacked permits and that the state government’s required paperwork was also disregarded.
“I have seen individuals painting buildings that are old, that are not nice, it is not painting that makes a building fresh, the LABCA boss added. “All we are after is that the lives of traders and other Nigerians are immensely important to the Lagos State Government. The value of our lives is greater.”
Oki warned owners of failing structures slated for demolition to demolish them as soon as possible in order to avert tragedy; else, the government would step in and take action.
“My mandate is to remove anything that is decaying, that is dangerous to the people who even own it,” he declared.
He claimed that persons who failed to obtain building plan permissions or those who converted their properties illegally typically prohibited LASBCA authorities from implementing the law.
Oki clarified the need for some of the vendors to undergo regularisation as well as the reasons why abandoned properties were being demolished.
He claimed that this was due to problems with land speculators selling one piece of land to numerous buyers as well as the need to stop chaotic development.
Remember that the Lagos State Government started demolishing 17 structures at Alaba International Market in June 2023, and that the team was reportedly joined by a sizable number of law enforcement officials.
Oki disclosed that notices to demolish the damaged properties had been issued numerous times since 2016, but the tenants had ignored the notices.
His visit was intended to send out the last alerts and evacuation orders to the tenants of the buildings that would be torn down.
However, Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, established a committee to improve ties between the Yorubas and the Igbos in an effort to quell the tension brought on by the demolition exercise with reports that it was directed at Igbo-owned businesses.
