LASG defends Makoko demolition

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday defended the ongoing demolition exercise in Makoko, even as a planned protest against the action recorded a low turnout in the waterfront community.

reports that only a handful of youths gathered at the waterfront on Tuesday to protest the demolition.

The protesters, mostly youths, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Please hear our cry,” “Please maintain 100 metres,” “Protect our homes, save our families,” and “Immediate stop of demolition beyond 100m,” among others.

Speaking on the development, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, said those opposing the exercise were residents who refused to vacate areas marked for demolition.

There is no problem with Makoko,” Oki said. “The Makoko people have been one. We have been on this for the last five years. There have been a series of engagements. We begged them, held meetings with them, and they agreed.

“The people making noise now are those stubborn boys who do not want to leave the place. What the law says is 100 metres from the power line.”

He said the government had acted in the interest of public safety, warning that residents would hold the state responsible if a power line fell into the water.

“There is no problem with Makoko,” Oki said. “The Makoko people have been one. We have been on this for the last five years. There have been a series of engagements. We begged them, held meetings with them, and they agreed.

“The people making noise now are those stubborn boys who do not want to leave the place. What the law says is 100 metres from the power line.”

He said the government had acted in the interest of public safety, warning that residents would hold the state responsible if a power line fell into the water.

“If any power line drops into the water, it is the government they will blame. And the government has been warning them,” he said.

Oki also questioned the condition of the waterfront, insisting that the demolition was necessary for environmental and urban planning reasons.

“Is that how the waterfront of any country looks? Even the NGO people coming to brainwash them — is that how their waterfronts look like?” he asked.

On whether the government was adhering to the agreed 100-metre setback from power lines, Oki said the actual safety requirement was wider.

“It is even 250 metres, so giving them 100 metres is free for all,” he said.

The state government explained that the demolition formed part of its urban regeneration programme aimed at achieving megacity status.

It noted that similar exercises had been carried out in areas such as Oworonshoki, Mile 12 and Eti-Osa, as part of efforts to enforce building regulations and ensure compliance with urban planning laws across Lagos.