During a recent media parley, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasized the government’s commitment to enforcing urban planning regulations, stating that houses violating the state’s planning rules will face demolition.

Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted cases where even government officials’ houses were demolished for non-compliance.

“There are some officers of this government that their houses went down,” the governor said at a media parley on Thursday.

Last year, the demolition of structures resumed in Lagos, with both the state government and the Federal Housing Authority demolishing buildings in various areas including Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, and Ladipo Market.

The demolished buildings were reportedly in violation of the city’s master plan and were constructed on drainage channels, making hundreds of families homeless.

But Sanwo-Olu said the houses demolished contravened the state’s planning laws and contributed to flooding in the state.

“We are not being emotional; we are being factual. It has nothing to do with ethnicity but doing what is right,” he said.

“The right things to be done are difficult things sometimes; they are the things that will appear unpopular but it is to keep the state safe for all.

“People deliberately built on the right of way for drainage canals. Lagos is below sea level. So, those waters have to go, come back, and go back again.

“There are some officers of this government that their houses went down. It has to go. We are not out to take the entire four bedrooms; if it is one room that contravenes, you can reconstruct and have three rooms.

“What I can assure you is that nobody will or willingly be attacked by virtue of race, gender, colour, ethnicity. That I can put on the table, and say that please if you know of any, I will be the first to apologise and make amends immediately,” the governor stated.