The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has issued a strong warning to residents of Makoko, urging them to vacate buildings constructed directly beneath high-tension electricity lines.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Gbolahan Oki, gave the directive on Tuesday while briefing journalists on recent enforcement exercises.
Oki said that the high-tension lines, which transmit electricity at extremely high voltages, pose grave risks of electrocution, fire outbreaks, and structural hazards to residents.
“Makoko has become a high-risk zone because electricity cables run directly over homes and businesses. The government cannot wait until a tragedy occurs. The lives of citizens are more important than economic activities in the area,” Oki stated.
He explained that LASBCA had engaged stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders, to sensitise them about the dangers. A video of one such meeting was shown to journalists, with Oki noting that community leaders themselves admitted the urgency of relocating residents.
The permanent secretary warned against politicising the process, revealing that some residents resisted enforcement in the belief that government action would be suspended for political reasons.
“The next time you see us in Makoko, people may claim the government acted suddenly. That is why we are providing evidence of our engagements with the community,” he added.
Oki urged the media to help raise awareness, stressing that while waterfront communities exist in other countries, they are organised and built safely—not beneath power lines.
The government, he said, remains committed to protecting lives, improving the environment, and enforcing urban planning laws.
Lagos had introduced a building permit amnesty programme in 2024 to help owners of unapproved buildings regularise their documentation. Of 18,489 applications received, 8,856 permits were issued before the programme ended in December 2024.
Since then, the state has begun removing unsafe structures, starting with Oworonshoki, and has indicated that Makoko will face similar enforcement measures in the coming months.
