Lagos community residents protest LASBCA’s demolition order
Residents of the Otumara Community of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos have decried the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s (LASBCA) order to demolish their houses.
The Guardian earlier reported that the LASBCA marked make-shift structures, shanties, and illegally developed buildings in the community for removal.
While narrating this ordeal, a resident of the community said agents of LASBCA, in the company of police officers, arrived in their community on Wednesday and began marking their houses for removal.
He said, “Sudden presence of police officers and members of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) was seen in Otumara Community on the 12th of February 2025, at about 14:30pm, they started marking houses and marked with red paint, putting cross signs and writing “TOTAL REMOVER” on walls.”
According to the resident, this was strange as residents of the community were in talks with the Lagos Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).
He added that the Lagos State Government was violating their rights to dignity and shelter.
He also accused the agency of failing to consider the well-being of people who would be affected by this order.
“As Nigerians, first settlers, house owners and residents of Otumara Community, our rights to dignity, shelter, government protection and accommodation are about to be violated.
“Our previous discussion with LASURA was Tailored towards inclusive governance of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. ( BOS ), and not jungle justice approach and attitude, that LASBCA suddenly introduced,” he added.
The residents also appealed with the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to rescind this order and call LASBCA to order.
While reacting to this issue, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, noted that due process was followed before the shanties and other illegally developed structures were marked for removal.
