...Lagos state would no longer tolerate residential or commercial activities beneath high-tension power lines or in other restricted areas,
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to clearing all buildings and structures erected beneath high-tension power lines, warning that such illegal developments pose serious safety hazards to residents.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Electronic Geographic Information System (EGIS) and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, issued the warning during an assessment tour of the Third Mainland Bridge corridor.
He was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki; the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), Oladimeji Animashaun; and other senior officials from relevant agencies.
The inspection covered areas from Oworonshoki to Adekunle and the Makoko axis of Ebute-Meta, where the team identified multiple shanties and illegal structures encroaching on the bridge setbacks and violating the required 50-metre right-of-way.
Babatunde stressed that Lagos state would no longer tolerate residential or commercial activities beneath high-tension power lines or in other restricted areas, noting that such practices endanger lives and property. He added that enforcement efforts would be intensified to ensure compliance with planning laws, protect infrastructure, and improve public safety.
Speaking during the tour, Oki highlighted that the government had held several stakeholder meetings with residents of Makoko and other affected communities, cautioning them about the dangers of building directly under transmission cables and close to the Third Mainland Bridge.
“We issued a 14-day notice as far back as February, but as you can see, they ignored it. Some are even expanding toward the middle of the Third Mainland Bridge. We have warned them repeatedly; the next step is decisive enforcement,” Oki said.
He noted that the government had made it clear during engagements that after multiple warnings, enforcement would follow without further notice.
Oki added that while the government continues to work with community leaders, safeguarding lives remains the top priority.
“If any of those cables fall and something happens, the government will be blamed. People’s lives matter most. They are also encroaching on the Third Mainland Bridge,” he said.
