Lagos State illegal buildings demolition at Trade Fair Complex aims to ensure safety, not ethnic bias, says Commissioner for Physical Planning

Lagos State illegal buildings around the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo have come under the government’s bulldozers once again, as the state restated its zero tolerance for unapproved developments that threaten public safety.

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In a statement on Thursday, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, clarified that the demolitions were in full compliance with a 2003 Supreme Court judgment empowering states to control physical developments, except in designated federal-use zones.

The latest enforcement, which includes a two-week ultimatum for developers and occupants to regularise their building approvals, has sparked ethnic sentiments, with some accusing the state of bias. However, Olumide dismissed these claims as politically motivated misinformation.

“This exercise is not about land ownership or ethnicity. It is purely about safety and compliance with planning laws,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, the enforcement is backed by the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act of 1992 and the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019. He stressed that all buildings must have valid planning permits, irrespective of who owns them.

Olumide also highlighted that similar demolitions had taken place in Pelewura Market, Bombata Market, Ilasan Estate, Otumara in Ebute Metta, Alaba Rago, and Oluwole Market — all occupied by people from various ethnic backgrounds.

“It is wrong for anyone to attach ethnic meaning to these actions,” Olumide noted. “Even states like Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo have carried out similar urban planning exercises.”

He urged developers and residents to support the government’s efforts to maintain order and prevent environmental hazards, especially in flood-prone areas.

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As Lagos continues to evolve as a megacity, the government insists that compliance with planning laws is non-negotiable, promising further action if unapproved structures are not regularised within the deadline.