ICYMI: Demolition of Unauthorized Buildings Begins at Lagos Trade Fair Complex

The Lagos State Government on Thursday began demolishing illegal and unsafe structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo as part of its efforts to restore order and enforce physical planning regulations.

Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the exercise in a post on X, noting that the operation targeted “illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals, defective buildings, and constructions erected on road setbacks and drainage channels.”

He explained that the government could not continue to tolerate unapproved developments that obstruct critical infrastructure and endanger lives.

The exercise was carried out jointly by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority. Representatives from the Office of Infrastructure, members of the State House of Assembly, and security agencies also provided support.

Bulldozers were deployed to pull down marked structures, while some traders and shop owners expressed concern about the effect on their businesses. The Sanwo-Olu administration has repeatedly warned against building without approval or blocking drainage systems, stressing that such violations contribute to flooding, traffic congestion, and general urban disorder.

Officials described the removal as part of ongoing efforts to protect infrastructure and ensure public safety in a city already grappling with congestion. Past demolition exercises, however, have sparked criticism from affected residents who complained of inadequate notice and loss of property.

The government had previously introduced an amnesty programme to allow owners of irregular or unapproved buildings to regularise their properties without penalty. That programme, which was extended several times, has now ended, paving the way for stricter enforcement. LASBCA has since intensified demolitions in areas where illegal structures obstruct drainage channels, encroach on road setbacks, or are deemed unsafe.