The Lagos State Government has initiated a crackdown on illegal structures in Banana Island, commencing today, Monday, February 17, 2025.
This action targets buildings that violate established building codes, pose safety hazards, or encroach upon unauthorized areas.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, made this disclosure at a stakeholders’ meeting on Banana Island recently.
Oki stated that buildings violating regulations, including those under high-tension power lines and in restricted shoreline areas, would be marked and demolished.
“From Monday to Friday next week, officials will come and mark the buildings. The following week, we will give you two weeks to get your documents ready. After that, I am going to pull everything down,” he said.
He stressed that the decision reflects the government’s commitment to enforcing urban planning laws and safeguarding public safety.
Oki added that LASBCA has previously removed illegal structures under high-tension lines in areas such as Abule Egba, Iya Niba, and Iyana Isheri.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Planning Matters, Dr. Babatunde Olajide, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s control over land matters under the Land Use Act.
Olajide stated that unauthorized land reclamation and sand-filling had disrupted Banana Island’s planned development, making government intervention necessary.
“While regulations mandate a 150-meter setback from the shoreline, the government has reduced this to 100 meters as a concession. However, some developers still fail to comply. Residents should cooperate, as the objective is to restore order and ensure safety, not to target property owners arbitrarily,” he said.
However, a committee has been formed to address complaints of illegal extensions, led by Olalekan Sodeinde, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development.
Sodeinde highlighted that unregulated construction had caused environmental degradation on Banana Island, which was once a prime real estate area, and assured that decisive action would be taken to restore its integrity.
In his remark, the chairman of the Banana Island Association, Abidemi Sonaike, welcomed the government’s efforts, emphasising the importance of proper planning and safety compliance.
“With enforcement imminent, property owners have been urged to regularise their approvals or face demolition,” he said.
