Lagos warns Makoko residents living under power lines

LASBCA has urged Makoko residents to vacate buildings under high-tension power lines, citing life-threatening hazards and ongoing urban enforcement plans

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has issued a stern warning to residents of Makoko living under high-tension power lines, urging immediate evacuation to prevent loss of lives due to electrocution or fire outbreaks.

Also read:Lagos education quality assurance boosts professionalism

The warning came during a press briefing by Gbolahan Oki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, following recent enforcement operations across high-risk zones.

“Makoko has become a high-risk zone because electricity cables run directly over homes and businesses,” Oki said. “These high-tension lines carry dangerously high voltages. It’s a ticking time bomb.”

Oki emphasized that such structures not only violate physical planning regulations but also contradict Lagos State’s long-term vision for urban safety and environmental sustainability.

He stressed that the government would not wait for tragedy to strike before acting, reiterating that “human lives are more important than any economic activity.”

The government says it has held multiple meetings with traditional rulers, landlords, and local leaders in Makoko to raise awareness.

A video of one engagement session was presented to journalists, showing community leaders acknowledging the danger.

“We’ve done the groundwork. Any claims that the government acted suddenly are false,” Oki stated. “The resistance we’re seeing is partly political, but we won’t compromise on safety.”

Lagos had earlier offered a building permit amnesty in 2024, allowing residents to regularise unapproved structures.

The programme recorded 18,489 applications, with 8,856 permits issued before its conclusion in December 2024.

Since then, the state has begun removing unsafe structures — starting with Oworonshoki — and Makoko is now in focus.

Oki clarified that waterfront settlements, like Makoko, can be sustainable if built safely and legally.

“Waterfront living exists globally, but not under power lines or in unregulated environments. What we have now is dangerous and illegal,” he added.

Also read: Lagos intensifies crackdown on Okada riders

Oki called on the media to support public sensitisation, stressing that the goal is not displacement but protection of lives and restoration of urban order.

Source: Read more at theheute.com.ng

David Okere