... All illegal structures under high tension power lines must be removed - Arc Gbolahan Oki
The Lagos State government today Monday 8th December 2025, embarked on an assessment tour of some areas of the city in continuation of it's urban regeneration exercise.
The assessment tour took the team to the 3rd Mainland bridge from the Oworonshoki to Adekunle and Makoko axis of Ebute Metta in Lagos State.
In his remarks on the 3rd Mainland bridge while addressing newsmen on the determination of the Lagos State government to it's urban regeneration policy, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and urban development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, identified the encroachment of shanties along the waterways of the bridge in violation of the 60 meters distance prescribed by law and restated that they will not be allowed to stay. He also made it known that buildings within the prescribed legally permitted meters under high tension power lines will not be allowed to stay.
In his words, Dr Babatunde said, "The Lagos State government is on the same page with the federal government that all highways along our waterways must be in line with statutory meters distance". He re-emphasized that the state government has been in discussions with communities in breach of the law to remove illegal structures and shanties since the days of the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola administration 2007-2015 to the present administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu which is 6 years old in office in 2025.
According to Dr. Babatunde, "The discussions with illegal squatters to vacate their abode which constitute a threat to life and property is over 15 years old, but they have persistently refused to honour their agreement to leave on their own volition as agreed".
Going further, he said, "Lagos State government will not allow buildings under high tension power lines anywhere in the state to remain because of the risk to life"
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary Office of Urban Development Arc Gbolahan Oki, decried the attitude of the illegal squatters with whom the state government has held series of meetings on the need for them to obey the law of the land, but have always reneged on the agreements.
Arc. Gbolahan Oki, stated that "All structures under high tension power lines in the state, will be removed in a number of days by our enforcement team".
According to Arc Oki, "Our waterways in Lagos is our Gold, our Crude Oil which must be preserved in our collective interest". He queried the haste at which Non governmental organizations (NGOs) rush to the defence of people violating the law without educating them on the need to be law abiding.
At the Adekunle end of the 3rd Mainland bridge, Arc Gbolahan Oki, pointed out to journalists, the illegal development of new shanties at the Oko baba sawmill axis of the 3rd Mainland bridge as a result of the relocation of the saw mill to Agbowa in Ikorodu and promised that such illegal shanties will be demolished soon.
Dr. Babatunde on his part emphasized that the Oko Baba saw mill has been relocated to Agbowa in line with the regeneration policy of the state government and that the new shanties springing up to take advantage of the present situation, will not be allowed to stay and in his words, "Our enforcement team will be visiting soon to correct the anomalies".
The General Manager of LASURA TPL ESV Oladimeji Animashaun on his part, aligned himself with the submission of the SA to Mr. Governor and the PS office of Urban Development, by calling on illegal squatters to quit their illegal abode. In his words, "All illegal structures and shanties will be removed in line with the regeneration policy of the Lagos State government".
The assessment tour team was made up of the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and urban development Dr. Olajide Babatunde, the Permanent Secretary of Urban Development in the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA)TPL ESV Oladimeji Animashaun, TPL Odujebe Olalekan of the office of Urban Development, Bldr. Ibrahim Abdulrazaq of LASBCA, directors and other senior officials of the office of urban development and it's sisters agencies, security operatives and members of the press.
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