Manny Ita –
The Lagos State Government has issued a four-month ultimatum to allottees of the state-owned Ojokoro Estate to remove all illegal structures and unauthorized extensions within the premises. Disclosed in an official statement on Monday, March 9, 2026, the directive is part of a broader enforcement drive intended to restore the original design integrity, safety, and order of government housing schemes. According to the Ministry of Housing, the move follows a surge in unauthorized constructions that contravene the established layout of the estate. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Abdulhafis Toriola, expressed concern over these breaches during a recent stakeholders’ meeting with the Ojokoro Estate Residents Association, describing the level of infractions as “alarming.”
During the deliberations, it was clarified that all property owners had been previously briefed on the regulations governing their allotments as contained in the official Allottee’s Guide. “The Lagos State Ministry of Housing has issued a strong caution to residents of State-owned housing estates against the construction of illegal structures and violations of estate regulations, reiterating its commitment to restoring order, safety, and the original design integrity of government estates,” the government statement read. The Ministry further confirmed that the meeting concluded with an agreement that “all marked infractions should be removed within the next four months,” after which the government will commence active enforcement and rejuvenation efforts.
Addressing rumors regarding the legitimacy of some extensions, the Assistant General Manager of the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), ESV. Tosin Olugbile, dismissed claims that any of the marked contraventions had received official approval, stating firmly that no such authorizations were ever granted. The Chairman of the Ojokoro Estate Residents Association, Mr. Taiwo Akinde, expressed his support for the restructuring plan, acknowledging that existing violations must be addressed to maintain the estate’s standards. Officials emphasized that the initiative is corrective rather than punitive, aiming to improve security and environmental balance, as inconsistent alterations can significantly compromise the estate’s infrastructure and public safety.
This enforcement action coincides with the state’s aggressive housing strategy, which includes a timeline to complete over 14,000 housing units by the end of 2026 to bridge the regional housing deficit. To support these developments, the state allocated N101.6 billion to housing and community amenities in its 2025 budget and has continued to promote initiatives like the Rent-To-Own Programme and the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS). While the government continues to partner with private institutions, such as the December 2024 agreement with Access Bank for the 704-unit Odonla-Odugunyan project in Ikorodu, the Ministry stressed that the preservation of existing assets remains a collective responsibility of all allottees.
