The Lagos State Government has stated that it will demolish shanties located less than 100 metres from power lines in the Makoko waterfront community.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, stated this while interacting with traditional leaders from Makoko who visited his office on Monday.

According to the ministry, the traditional rulers visited to plead with the government to spare the community from demolition and to allow a 30-metre setback from the power lines.

Oki, however, noted that 100 metres was the maximum distance the government could permit.

He explained that the Federal Government regulations mandate a 250-metre setback from power lines, but said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who does not want residents displaced, had approved a reduced distance.

“The government is not arrogant. The law states that the distance must be 250 metres, but as a state, we are permitting 100 metres because we do not want it to look like we are displacing you, but now you are begging for 30 metres. If any of that cable lands on the water, 80% of you will be gone, and we can’t be begging you to save your lives,” Oki said.

He added, “It is not going to be business as usual. We are going to take the 100 metres. We are clearing everything on the waterfront down to Bariga. There’s no going back.

“We want to have a well-laid environment. You must comply with the law of physical planning and urban development. Lagos is developing into a megacity, and we are going to achieve it.”

Oki also said Governor Sanwo-Olu had directed residents to paint the roofs of their wooden houses in a uniform colour within two months to enhance the aesthetic outlook of the waterfront, particularly as viewed from the Third Mainland Bridge.

Responding on behalf of the community leaders, the Baale of Sogunro Ajagungbade, High Chief Yusuf Segrakumayono, promised that the community would comply with the government’s directives. (The PUNCH)

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