The Lagos State Government has defended its recent demolition of structures in Makoko and other waterfront communities, insisting that residents had been engaged for several years before the exercise and dismissing claims that the action was sudden or without notice.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated this during Ask Lagos, a weekly public engagement hosted on X, where government officials addressed residents’ concerns and defended the controversial demolitions.
Omotoso said the exercise was motivated by public safety, environmental protection and security considerations, stressing that the government was not targeting the poor.
According to him, structures erected beneath high-tension power lines and along critical waterways posed severe risks to lives and property.
“No responsible government anywhere in the world can allow people to live directly under high-tension cables or obstruct vital waterways,” Omotoso said. “These actions are not punitive. They are preventive – to protect lives, avert disasters, and secure the future of Lagos.”
Responding to complaints that affected communities were not adequately notified, the commissioner said the government had maintained engagements with waterfront residents for more than five years.
He explained that existing planning laws require buildings to be sited at least 250 metres away from power lines, a regulation that had been repeatedly violated.
“The law stipulates that buildings must be 250 metres away from power lines, but they are built under the power lines, and no government will accept that,” Omotoso said. “Imagine one line dropping into the lagoon. The disaster will be incredible.”
He added that some community members had appealed for the setback requirement to be reduced, noting that requests had been made for the distance to be reviewed from 100 metres to 50 metres.
Also speaking at the session, the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, said the demolitions formed part of a broader urban regeneration strategy aimed at making Lagos safer, more resilient and investment-friendly.
Babatunde cited the relocation of residents from Oko Baba to purpose-built estates with modern amenities, saying the state had provided hundreds of housing units to ensure displaced residents were not left without alternatives.
He added that demolition decisions were guided by master plans, safety codes and environmental standards.
“We must follow regulations to avoid these situations; urban development is about building sustainably for the future,” he said, urging residents and developers to comply with planning laws.
During the interactive session, some participants raised concerns about alleged casualties, heavy-handed enforcement, lack of compensation and unclear relocation timelines.
In response, Omotoso acknowledged the pain caused by the exercise but cautioned against unverified claims.
“We understand the pain this causes, but speculation only fuels division,” he said. “Let’s focus on facts and collaborative solutions.”
Babatunde also highlighted the state’s e-GIS platforms as transparency tools that allow residents to verify zoning classifications and setback requirements before development, thereby reducing future conflicts.
Despite criticism from some residents and civil society groups who described the demolitions as “class cleansing,” the state government maintained that inaction could result in disasters with consequences far worse than displacement.