Lagos demolishes structures under high-tension power line

Following a clash in Ikola, a Lagos community which claimed four lives in Lagos on Thursday, the Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA), in close coordination with the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), has intensified ongoing safety operations in the community to protect residents.

The community is an informal settlement beneath high-tension electricity power lines.

According to an e-statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, such informal settlements contravene national and international safety standards and expose thousands of citizens to the unacceptable risks of electrocution, fire outbreak, and structural collapse.

“In line with the administration’s commitment to the preservation of life and property as the highest duty of the government, relevant agencies were immediately deployed to the area.

“Communities were granted ample time to safely evacuate and recover personal belongings prior to the commencement of any demolition activity.

“This approach reflects the State’s policy of enforcing the law with empathy, ensuring that enforcement does not become an instrument of hardship,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He disclosed that controlled demolition exercises were ongoing and it is being executed with the highest standards of professionalism and safety.

It was  gathered that LASEMA’s heavy recovery equipment has been activated to clear structures within the statutory right-of-way of the power line, thereby eliminating a long-standing hazard and restoring the corridor to its intended purpose.

LASEMA boss disclosed further that the Lagos State Government recognises the right of every citizen to shelter and livelihood; however, “ that right must be balanced against the collective responsibility to prevent avoidable loss of life. No development is sustainable where it is built on avoidable risk.

“This intervention is therefore not targeted at any ethnic group or community, but at a dangerous structural reality that threatens everyone living in its path.

“The government will continue to engage community leaders, traditional rulers, and relevant stakeholders in Ikola and across the State to promote peaceful coexistence, enforce urban planning regulations, and provide information on safe and approved areas for settlement.”

Oke-Osanyintolu urged residents to desist from building under power lines, gas pipelines, and other restricted corridors, and to always seek guidance from appropriate authorities before erecting structures.

“Lagos State remains committed to building a resilient, safe, and orderly megacity where the rule of law is upheld, and the lives of all residents are protected. We appreciate the cooperation of Ikola residents, community leaders, and security agencies for their understanding and support during this critical exercise,” Oke-Osanyintolu concluded.