In a move to enforce urban planning laws and ensure public safety, the Lagos State Government has announced plans to mark illegal buildings on Banana Island for demolition, starting Monday, February 17, 2025. This decisive action targets structures that violate building regulations, pose safety risks, and encroach on unauthorized areas.
Mr. Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), revealed the details during a stakeholders’ meeting on Banana Island, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He stated that buildings found to be in violation of building codes, including those situated beneath high-tension power lines and within restricted shoreline areas, will be identified and subsequently demolished.
From Monday to Friday next week, officials will mark the affected buildings, and property owners will have two weeks to present the necessary documentation. After this grace period, any non-compliant structures will be removed. “From Monday to Friday next week, officials will come and mark the buildings. The following week, we will give you two weeks to get your documents ready. After that, I am going to pull everything down,” Oki declared firmly.
This action is in line with the Lagos State Government’s commitment to enforcing urban planning laws and ensuring public safety. Oki noted that LASBCA has carried out similar operations in other parts of the state, such as Abule Egba and Iyana Isheri, where illegal buildings under high-tension lines were successfully demolished.
Dr. Babatunde Olajide, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Planning Matters, reaffirmed the government’s authority over land matters under the Land Use Act. He highlighted that unauthorized land reclamation and sand-filling have disrupted the planned development of Banana Island, necessitating this intervention.
While regulations traditionally mandate a 150-meter setback from the shoreline, Olajide explained that the government has reduced this to 100 meters as a concession. However, he noted that some developers have still failed to comply, prompting the need for action. Olajide urged residents to cooperate, emphasizing that the objective is to restore order and ensure safety, not to target property owners arbitrarily.
To address complaints of illegal extensions, a committee led by Olalekan Sodeinde, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Urban Development, has been established. Sodeinde acknowledged that unregulated construction has led to environmental degradation in Banana Island, once a prime real estate destination, and assured that firm action would be taken to restore its integrity.
Abidemi Sonaike, the Chairman of the Banana Island Association, welcomed the government’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of proper planning and safety compliance. With enforcement imminent, property owners have been urged to regularize their approvals or face the consequences of demolition.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Newspot Nigeria.
Source: Nairametrics
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