Residents of Lagos mega-metropolis living or plying their trade under high tension cables across the state should vacate such places or risk their structures being demolished, the Lagos State Government has said.
According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP. Olayinka Saheed Egbeyemi the exercise was carried out by the government in order to protect lives and properties of people living in the State.
He said that the residents and traders were allowed to remove their goods and properties.
Egbeyemi spoke to the press during the demolition of illegal structures and over 350 illegal shops constructed under high tension cables at Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun Modern Market, Isheri – Olofin under Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area in Alimosho.
He confirmed that residents and traders of these illegal structures and shops/shanties were served adequate statutory notices before the demolition exercise.
The demolition exercise was jointly carried out by Lagos State Task Force, Lagos State Building Control Agency and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The Assistant General Secretary of Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun Modern Market Alfa Yisa Mudashiru in his reactyion to the demolition, however said that they have been selling and living inside the market for over 35 years.
He said that they developed the illegal markets in conjunction with officials of Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area.
He also confirmed that they were served adequate notices and that both the ‘Baba Oloja’, Mr. Salami Alao and ‘Iya Oloja’, Alhaja Irat Adebayo were lobbing government officials for a stay of execution before today.
The leader of the Hausa Community at the market Alahaji Aliyu Galadima said the market was divided among the three ethnic groups namely Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
Galadima stated that immediately notices were served, he and his other ethnic group leaders quickly informed residents and traders of the market about the intention of the government.
He however commended the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for his zero tolerance on safety standard measures across the State.
Egbeyemi disclosed that other areas where illegal structures and shops were constructed under high tension cables have been adequately served with demolition notices.
“With time the machinery of government would move to demolish such illegal structures within other local governments and local council development areas in the State”, he said.
