Lagos set to release report on Banana Island demolition
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu
Lagos set to release report on Banana Island demolition
The Lagos State Government has said that it has finished its report on illegal buildings marked for demolition on Banana Island and will share it with the public soon.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, said this on Monday during a press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in his second term.
Babatunde said the government pulled down at least 349 unsafe buildings in the past year to protect lives and property.
Earlier, the government said it planned to demolish buildings on Banana Island that were built without approval or in restricted areas, like near the shoreline and under power lines.
This plan has worried many residents and property owners on the island, who have asked the government to step in.
Babatunde also said the Lagos State Building Control Agency, when it was led by Gbolahan Oki, had given demolition notices and asked property owners to bring their building papers for checking.
He stated, “This action reflects the government’s firm commitment to enforcing urban planning laws, safeguarding public safety, and preserving the structural integrity of the estate.”
The Special Adviser disclosed further that affected property owners have been invited for meetings and allowed to regularise their building approvals, noting that the verification exercise has now been concluded.
He added, “The report on this exercise is ready, and the government will soon publish it publicly before taking further action.”
The Lagos State Building Control Agency has also demolished illegal buildings in other parts of the state, including Abule Egba, Iyana-Iba and Iyana Isheri. Most of these structures were built under power lines, which is against the law.
Babatunde added that 39 property have been taken back by the government from 2021 till now. Offenders have also been fined.
