The Lagos State Government has demolished 19 buildings at the International Trade Fair Complex along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, citing violations of physical planning regulations.
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), backed by security operatives, carried out the demolition on Thursday. The exercise affected both commercial and residential structures said to have been erected without government approval.
LASBCA General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, said the action followed several notices issued to the owners, which were ignored. He explained that the affected structures contravened the state’s urban and regional planning laws and posed environmental and safety risks.
“Government will not fold its arms and allow illegal developments to thrive, especially in sensitive locations like the Trade Fair Complex. These demolitions are part of our wider effort to enforce compliance and restore order in Lagos,” Oki stated.
Some traders and occupants of the demolished properties, however, expressed shock, alleging that they were not adequately informed before the exercise. They appealed for government intervention to prevent further loss of businesses and livelihoods.
The demolition is the latest in a series of enforcement actions by the Lagos State Government targeting illegal structures across the metropolis. Authorities insist the measures are aimed at ensuring safety, curbing environmental degradation, and maintaining the state’s master plan.
