Lagos defends Ikoyi demolition

The Lagos State Government on Saturday said owners of buildings recently demolished in Ikoyi area of the state were duly served with contravention, removal and quit notices before the exercise was carried out.

The Commissioner for Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said in a statement that the government had noted with dismay the disobedience of building regulations and resolved to remove illegal structures.

“In our effort to maintain a sustainable and organised environment, the government will not renege on its declared stance of zero tolerance for structures and properties without development permit or approved building plans.

“We have documentary evidence of service of all statutory notices; the buildings were also marked with the X red oxide to also call the attention of the owners to physical planning contraventions,” he said.

Ayorinde said the government was compelled to pull down the structures, having served the statutory contravention notices on them and when owners failed to remove them within the statutory notice period.

He reiterated the State Government’s desire to restore the original master plan of all residential areas in the state.

“Arbitrary locations of kiosks, illegal parking lots, unapproved mechanic workshops, roadside restaurants and other unplanned commercial centres have contributed in no small way to distorting physical planning designs of the State.

“This is an exercise in progress; it is an ongoing operation to sanitise the environment.

“We have also developed strategies to prevent re-occurrences of illegal developments and for the sustenance of a cleaner Lagos,” he said.

Ayorinde called on those who had structures within the right of way of public utilities to remove them or face the full wrath of the law.

He urged residents to ensure they obtain necessary planning permits before embarking on any renovation, construction or other forms of development.

Ayorinde further advised that they should avail themselves of the provisions of the state’s physical planning and development regulations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government on Aug.28 gave a 14- day ultimatum to owners of illegal structures, shanties in the area, Victoria Island and Lekki to remove them.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode also inaugurated a committee on the implementation of the cleanup of the areas on Tuesday.