by Ajadi Daniel
The Lagos state government on Tuesday clarified its decision to demolish illegal structures and shanties erected along river banks and high tension cables across the state citing security concerns and flagrant abuse of its building regulations as it core reasons.
Mr Steve Ayorinde, the state’s commissioner for information and strategy addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center in Alausa Ikeja, stated that the decision was in line with the government’s pursuit of its policy on cleaner environment and restoration of master plan through the removal of all environmental infractions and nuances across the state. The commissioner was joined by his counterparts in the ministry of Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, Ministry of Environment, Babatunde Adejare; and officials from the Ministry Physical Planning and Urban Development said that the state would not go back on its resolve to establish zero tolerance for all structures and properties under high tension cable.
“It is quite worrisome that ramshakle structures, sheds, canopies and shanties and miscreants/street urchins, kidnappers, touts, street traders and hawkers who often vandalise public utilities and attack innocent citizens.
“The State’s urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, prohibits erecting structures within the Right of Ways and set backs of drainage channels, centre-line of overhead-electricity wires and also states in every clear terms specified distance to be observed between a property line and public utility”.
Ayorinde disclosed that after the security council meeting of September, a directory was sent to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to asking them to take inventory of all the houses and buildings along the river banks in the riverine areas in the state.
The commissioner added “so you would see that nothing is being done and nothing would be done in Lagos State as far as demolition of illegal structures are concerned without due considerations to the extant laws of the state without adequately engaging the communities and people involved as demonstrated by what the governor did in Illubirin to give them more time to move in spite of the repeated warnings and notices that were being served.
Which illegal structure, shanties or hideout that is constituting security breach would you want the Lagos State government to destroy.?