Lagos Govment Defend Why Dem Demolish Structures For International Trade Fair

After plenty people talk say dem no gree with di demolition of over nine plazas for International Trade Fair complex, Lagos State Government don respond and talk say dem get power to enforce physical planning laws for anywhere wey dem dey control, including di Trade Fair Complex for Ojo. Di Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, talk say Lagos position get Supreme Court judgment from 2003 and Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 (plus amendment) wey give state power to control and enforce physical planning laws. Di commissioner yan say because di Trade Fair Complex dey on Federal Government land no mean say developers no need get planning permits from Lagos State Government or make dem no follow state physical planning laws. He talk, We don act sharply to stop any more unapproved and unsafe building work for di Complex, because make di place livable, organized, and sustainable na big part of our T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda. He also yan say di Trade Fair Complex don always dey ignore building rules and no gree cooperate to fix di matter, even after plenty warning. One of di warnings na di one wey dem give November 2023, wey tell dem make dem regularize all building work with Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. Dis enforcement na part of Lagos State Government regular effort to make everywhere safe, livable, and better for people, no be only for Trade Fair Complex, but all over di state. Last week Thursday, Lagos State Government begin pull down wetin dem call illegal and unsafe buildings for Trade Fair Complex for Ojo. Officials talk say dis action na part of bigger plan to bring back order and enforce physical planning laws.

Di State Governor confirm di demolition and explain say di operation target buildings wey no get approval, structures wey don spoil, and those wey block road setbacks or drainage. State no fit just fold hand make unapproved buildings dey put people life for danger and block important infrastructure, he talk. Di demolition work na joint effort by di Ministry of Physical Planning, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Urban Renewal Agency, and Physical Planning Permit Authority. Members of di State House of Assembly, Office of Infrastructure, plus security people still show face to support di operation. Dis action come after government amnesty programme wey just end, di one wey give people chance to regularise dia buildings wey no get approval without paying any fine. But now wey di deadline don pass, LASBCA don increase demolition for places wey illegal structures no safe or dey block public infrastructure. But some of di past demolitions don cause wahala, as residents complain say dem lose dia houses or shops without better notice. For Oworonshoki for example, many people talk say dem no get enough time to move or even pack dia property before bulldozers show. Government still stand gidigba say di enforcement dey important to protect life and bring better order inside di already jam-packed city. One of di traders wey dem affect, Chief Udochukwu Uche, talk say di demolition na pure punishment and one way to shut up people wey no agree with government. He talk say di thing go affect traders December market, as sales don already dey pick up. He advise traders for Ladipo and other places wey people from one particular region full, make dem shine eye and get Plan B, because as e be so, di same bulldozers go soon reach dia side, with di usual excuse say dia building plan no complete or get wahala.