The Lagos State Government has defended the ongoing demolition of illegal structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, insisting that the exercise is strictly an enforcement of planning regulations and not targeted at any ethnic group.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumide Oluyinka, gave the clarification on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, following claims that the operation was discriminatory.
“That is not true. We have been to Owode Onirin, Idumota, and Ikeja. It has no ethnic correlation. The fact is that we just have to do our work. There is nothing ethnic here; it is purely technical,” he said.
Oluyinka explained that several buildings within the complex were erected without statutory approvals and in violation of basic safety standards. He added that defaulters were given ample time to comply with regulations before the demolition exercise commenced.
According to him, government officials faced harassment while attempting to serve notices. “Our officers went there to serve notices and were locked up for five to six hours. Even this year, officers went there and were detained. So what more notice are they requesting?” he queried.
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The commissioner further blamed the Trade Fair management for leasing land to third parties who built structures without recourse to planning approvals. He also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the complex, citing blocked drainage, dilapidated walkways, and poor refuse management.
“It’s a shame we allowed our Trade Fair to get to that extent. Refuse, passage, drainages, walkways, sewage, everything is in shambles.
They should even be happy we are there to sanitise because that is our responsibility. We cannot allow it to continue,” he added.
The demolition, which began on September 25, was led by the Ministry of Physical Planning in collaboration with the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Urban Renewal Agency, and the Physical Planning Permit Authority, with security agencies providing support.