PICTORIAL: Lagos Marks 280 Illegal Structures For Demolition

The Lagos State government has declared that over 280 illegal structures will be demolished in its bid to forestall the creation of slums, distortion of the Lagos State Master plan, and erosion of the state coastal area.

Among such structures, contravention notices were served on Farm City, Jonah Court, DHL, Polo Avenue and 65 others at Admiralty Way and Wole Olateju in Lekki Phase 1 abating Lekki Cowrie Creek by encroaching on Lekki Waterfront setback.

According to a post on the Lagos State government official X handle, “The government on Saturday 14th September issued contravention notices to over 280 illegal property owners and occupiers in the Mayegun Waterfront Scheme located in the Eti-Osa local government area of the state.”

The state’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Yacoob Alebiosu, said, “All the companies served are occupying the waterfront setbacks illegally thereby contravening Lagos State Waterfront law No 3 of 2009 for the regulation of Waterfront Development in Lagos State and connected purposes.”

Alebiosu charged the affected companies to report to the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development at Block 10, State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja with available documents/titles authorising them to use the setback, failure of which may result in the property being sealed or demolished.

He stressed by serving the Contravention Notices on them, the occupants are required to provide relevant documentation and approvals that justify their occupation of the properties in question within 7 days of the notice, failure of which a demolition notice will be served on them.

Hence, Alebiosu urged property owners to voluntarily remove their structures before the expiration of the contravention notices or regularise their documents to avoid penalties.

Consequently, he cautioned that the government would no longer tolerate illegal activities along the waterfront schemes and corridors, emphasising that encroachment on government properties, land, and setbacks would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, he reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State government to provide infrastructure and maintain the state waterfront by harnessing resources to ensure a well-protected environment that is attractive to tourists and the people of the state.