By Omolabake Cole
Lagos, Aug. 2, ’25 (TNZ) Residents of Ebute-Metta (West), Lagos Mainland Local Government, have petitioned the state government over alleged structural approval for commercial property located under the power lines.
TheNewsZenith reports that the residents include Elders of Ijero/Apapa Road, therefore, called for the demolition of the illegal building under construction and the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The Resident Association has, therefore, petitioned the state government to stop further construction work on the site.
Chairman and Secretary of the association, Chief Oluseun Williams and Mr Segun Sanya, signed the petition. It said the building is a threat to public safety.
The petition was addressed to the Office of the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on E-GIS and Planning Matters. They also copied the Office of the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
TheNewsZenith reports that the petition is titled, “Urgent objection to illegal construction on Federal Government setback on Ondo Street, Ebute Meta, (West), Lagos Mainland”.
Residents are blaming officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development for complicity in the matter.
Williams alleged that ministry officials approved one land grabber to construct a one-storey building of 16 shops on the relaxation spot despite the Federal Government approval ceding the spot to the community.
He alleged that officials of the ministry approved one land grabber to construct a one-storey building of 16 shops on the relaxation spot despite the federal government approval ceding the spot to the community.
The chairman noted that the actions of land grabbers and the buyer with constructive notice constitute a gross trespass.
According to him, it is an affront to environmental laws and a violation of the Lagos State Land Grabbing Law.
Expressing the community concern, Williams claimed that one Engineer Gbolahan Awonusi was delegated to the site for inspection, where he declared that the building violated the state building regulations and had no approval.
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“We object to the ongoing illegal construction on the triangular piece of land at Ondo Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos Mainland.
“This land is a Federal Government setback designated for community relaxation and recreation, and has been utilised for time immemorial.
“Despite clear instructions from the Executive Chairman to halt construction work, the perpetrators have refused to comply, demonstrating a blatant disregard for authority and the law.
“Despite clear instructions from the Executive Chairman to halt construction work, the perpetrators have refused to comply, demonstrating a blatant disregard for authority and the law.
“Furthermore, this construction poses a significant threat to public safety, being situated directly under high-tension wires and close to a transformer,” TheNewsZenith quotes Williams as saying.
Williams said the association had obtained the government’s approval since 2010 to use the site as a relaxation spot.
It reports that the Special Adviser to Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, had urged the public to report any building infractions to the Ministry for prompt action.
He said, “Government is for all of us. In a democracy, it is the government of the people and for the people. It’s all inclusive, and that is why you are to report any infraction. How many cases have you reported?
“The government is for all of us. In a democracy, it is government of the people and for the people. It’s all inclusive, and that is why you are to report any infraction. How many cases have you reported?
“When you report, the government knows what to do. This is why we say, when you see something that is going wrong in your community.”
Babatunde urged the public to report these infractions. “This is because it was only through their reporting that the state government would be able to address them”. (TNZ)
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