…says LASBCA has identified Makoko as a “high-risk zone.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to residents of Makoko to vacate all structures situated directly beneath high-tension electricity power lines, citing the risk of electrocution, fire outbreaks, and potential structural collapse.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, said the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has identified Makoko as a “high-risk zone” due to the unsafe proximity of homes and businesses to power transmission lines.
“Makoko has become a high-risk zone because electricity cables run directly over homes and businesses. The high-tension lines transmit power at extremely high voltages, posing a serious threat to human life,” Oki said.
He emphasized that such structures violate the state’s physical planning regulations and contradict Lagos’ broader goals of environmental sustainability and urban safety.
Oki disclosed that LASBCA had already initiated dialogue with stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders, to educate them on the hazards and secure their cooperation. A video recording of one such stakeholder meeting was shown to journalists, during which local leaders reportedly acknowledged the need for residents to relocate.
“The government cannot wait until a tragedy occurs. The lives of citizens are more important than economic activities in the area,” Oki declared. “People must move away from danger zones.”
Reacting to some residents’ refusal to comply with government directives, Oki condemned attempts to politicize the enforcement process, warning that the administration would not bow to pressure.
“The next time you see us in Makoko, people may claim the government acted suddenly. That is why we are providing evidence of our engagements with the community,” he said, reaffirming the government’s preparedness to enforce the law.
He also called on the media to support ongoing sensitisation campaigns, noting that while waterfront communities exist in many parts of the world, they operate in “safe and organized” environments, not beneath hazardous infrastructure.
As part of its urban reform agenda, the Lagos State Government had introduced a building permit amnesty programme in 2024 to help owners of unapproved structures regularise their documents. Of the 18,489 applications received, only 8,856 permits were granted before the programme ended in December 2024.
With the amnesty window now closed, authorities have commenced phased demolition of unsafe buildings, starting in Oworonshoki, and have signalled that Makoko is next.
The state insists that the move is necessary to save lives, restore order, and uphold the rule of law in physical planning.
“We are not targeting any group. We are targeting illegal and dangerous structures,” Oki concluded.
