The Lagos State Government has clarified that the ongoing removal of structures in the Makoko fishing community is a safety measure designed to protect residents, dismissing claims that the exercise is a land grab by the state.
Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser on Urban Development and E-GIS to the Governor, addressed the press on Monday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa. He explained that the removals specifically target structures located directly under high-tension electricity cables, citing extreme risks to human life.
Dr. Babatunde emphasized that the enforcement is not limited to Makoko but is part of a broader state-wide policy to eliminate hazardous living conditions. He noted that while the removal of structures under power lines is non-negotiable due to health and safety risks, the rest of the community will undergo a phased regeneration process.
“The regeneration of the other part of the community where people are living would be carried out in phases while human convenience would be considered in the development of the area,” Babatunde stated.
The Special Adviser further clarified that urban renewal efforts are currently spanning several locations across Lagos, including: Pelewura, Kantangowa, Oko-baba, and Oworonshoki
Reiterating the government’s long-term commitment to urban planning, Dr. Babatunde concluded that “the removal of such structures did not start from this administration. It has been ongoing, and we will continue to ensure that sanity prevails in our environment so that Lagos can be the best city we all crave to live in.”
The state government maintains that these measures are essential to preventing disasters and ensuring that Lagos maintains its status as a safe, habitable megacity.
