PICTORIAL: Lagos Government Demolishes Buildings Under Powerlines

The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, carried out a demolition exercise targeting shops, houses, and workshops built under high-tension powerlines at the Joke Ayo area of the State.

During the operation, officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, alongside enforcement officers, supervised the demolition of several structures deemed illegal for being erected beneath power transmission lines.

As the bulldozers moved through the area, scavengers quickly flooded the scene, picking up iron rods, metal scraps, and other remnants from the demolished buildings.

As of the time of filing this report, many occupants of the affected properties were seen in tears, lamenting over their losses and expressing frustration over the State government’s action.

One of the affected shop owners, Mrs. Kikelomo Nimota, said she was devastated by the demolition, revealing that she had only recently paid her rent before receiving the shocking notice. “I just paid for this shop not long ago. Before we knew it, we heard that the government would demolish all buildings under the powerline. I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly,” she lamented.

Meanwhile, Lagos State officials maintained that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to enforce urban planning regulations and prevent loss of lives and property from structures illegally built under powerlines.