The Lagos State Government began a major demolition exercise on Saturday, targeting unapproved buildings and shanties in several communities, including Oworo, Lekki, and Ajah.
The operation, led by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), aims to enforce environmental and building safety laws.
In Oworo, buildings constructed on sand-filled land near the Lagoon were pulled down after residents were given months of quit notices. Similarly, roadside shanties in Lekki and Alpha Beach, suspected of being hideouts for miscreants, were also removed.
However, the exercise became tense in Oworonshoki’s Ojulari community, where demolitions reportedly began at midnight.
Residents were left homeless, with some reporting the use of tear gas during the hurried evacuations. Due to the public outcry, the state government has temporarily suspended the demolitions in Oworonshoki for two weeks, giving affected residents more time to relocate.
