The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has declared its intent to demolish shanties and unauthorized structures in the Ogombo area of Eti-Osa Local Government Area.

Arc. Gbolahan Oki, the General Manager of LASBCA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Oki clarified that the land, which had been sold to unsuspecting buyers by land grabbers, commonly referred to as “omo oniles,” rightfully belonged to the state government.

According to Oki, the state government had issued multiple demolition notices to the illegal occupants of the area for over five years.

He noted that approximately 80 to 90 percent of the structures in the area were shanties, with only a few illegal constructions lacking building plan approvals or government documentation and without a proper layout for the area.

“We will soon embark on the removal of all the structures on the site because the government must fulfill its responsibilities,” he asserted.

Oki emphasized that the state government had committed to providing housing for its residents, and this action marked the beginning of that initiative.

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The General Manager expressed his concern over the challenges posed by land grabbers who unlawfully sold government land to unsuspecting buyers.

He also decried the unprofessional conduct of some real estate agents and lawyers who engaged in the buying and selling of properties without proper verification.

Apart from addressing the issue of land grabbers, Oki urged both estate agents and lawyers to be accountable for property searches and due diligence on behalf of prospective buyers before any financial commitments are made.

He emphasized the importance of verifying the status of any property through the Lagos State Land Bureau before making any payments.

Oki made it clear that LASBCA would not exempt any unauthorized property and would strictly enforce the demolition of structures without building plan approvals or Certificates of Occupancy (C/O), regardless of their size or height.

He concluded by stating, “Henceforth, any property built without building plan approval or C/O will be demolished; I am going to enforce it, let it be a 74-storey building, we will pull it down.”