The Lagos State Government has issued a two-week ultimatum to property owners and developers at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, directing them to obtain proper building approvals and regularise their structures with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
During this period, developers are expected to visit the ministry to “regularise the approval status of their buildings in line with extant regulations.” The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
He stressed that the ultimatum was part of government efforts to ensure safety and order in Lagos. “The Lagos State Government calls on all residents and stakeholders to cooperate with its ongoing efforts to ensure a safe, well-planned, and sustainable Lagos for all,” Olumide said.
Public reactions to the demolitions around the Trade Fair Complex have been heated. Some residents and business owners, including Igbo community leaders, were frustrated, claiming the exercise targeted a particular ethnic group.
But the Commissioner clarified that land ownership was not under dispute. He explained that the enforcement strictly concerns the approval status of existing structures.
Regularisation, Not Land Seizure
According to Olumide, “The ongoing enforcement focuses solely on the approval status of physical developments. Every structure in Lagos State must have a valid planning permit from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.”
He explained that the Trade Fair Complex had over the years degenerated into an “enclave of haphazard and unsafe structures, posing grave risks to public safety and emergency response.”
The state, he said, has zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved developments and will resume demolition of non-compliant structures after the two-week grace period.
Legal Backing and Broader Agenda
Citing the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act (1992) and the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law (2019), Olumide said the government has constitutional authority to regulate all physical development within its territory, including on federal lands not used for exclusive federal purposes.
He said the enforcement supports Sustainable Development Goal 11 — which seeks inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities — and aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.
Olumide noted that after the ultimatum, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) will resume demolition of illegal buildings in the area. Recent demolitions have already affected several locations across the state, including the trade fair axis.
However, where do you stand on this controversial issue? Do you believe the clampdown is a genuine urban reform effort — or another example of selective enforcement in Lagos’ complex ethnic landscape? Comment.Rate, Like 👍, Comment 💬, Share this article, Follow us on our social media handles, and Submit your own story to get featured and earn rewards!
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
