Lagos State Government (LASG) has cleared the air regarding the recent structural removals in the Makoko fishing community, noting that the exercise is a life-saving measure rather than a “land grabbing” expedition.
Addressing the media at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre on Tuesday, Olajide Babatunde, the Special Adviser on Urban Development and E-GIS, emphasised that the removals are specifically targeting structures built directly under high-tension electricity cables.
According to Babatunde, the proximity of these residences to high-voltage power lines poses an immediate and “high risk to human existence.”
He clarified that the state’s intervention is driven by health and safety concerns, citing the hazardous effects of living within such dangerous corridors.
“The removal of such structures did not start from this administration. It has been ongoing, and we will continue to ensure that sanity prevails,” Babatunde stated.
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The government was quick to reassure residents that this is not a total displacement.
The broader plan for Makoko includes areas currently inhabited and will undergo development in stages.
The state promised to prioritise the welfare of citizens during the urban renewal process.
Makoko is not being singled out; similar safety enforcement is active across the state to remove any structures infringing on utility setbacks.
Babatunde noted that this move is part of a wider Urban Regeneration strategy.
He listed other areas currently or previously undergoing similar transformations, including Pelewura, Katangowa, Oko-Baba and Oworonshoki.
He reiterated that the ultimate goal is to transform Lagos into a world-class city that is safe for all residents, moving away from the “erroneous belief” that the state is seizing land for ulterior motives.
