The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has called on residents of Makoko community to vacate buildings located beneath high-tension power lines due to extreme risks of electrocution, fire and structural collapse.
Mr Gbolahan Oki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, gave the advice in Lagos while speaking to newsmen on recent enforcement exercises.
Oki noted that the presence of such structures violates physical planning laws and undermines broader goals of urban safety and environmental sustainability.
*“Oworonshoki is not the only community affected. Makoko has become a high-risk zone because of the presence of electricity cables over homes and businesses.
“The agency has engaged stakeholders in the community, including traditional leaders and chairmen, to discuss the dangers of living in buildings under high-tension power lines.
“The high-tension lines transmit electricity at extremely high voltages, and being too close is a serious threat to human life,”* he said.
A three-minute video documentary of one of the stakeholder meetings was shown to journalists during the briefing.
“All the community leaders agree that the people living under the high-tension lines must leave,” Oki said.
He stressed that government cannot wait for tragedy before acting, as protecting lives is more important than the economic activities in the area.
According to him, despite repeated engagements, some residents have refused to comply, insisting that political considerations would prevent enforcement.
“The next time you see us in Makoko, people will claim government acted suddenly. That is why we are showing you evidence of our meetings with the community before any action is taken,” he said.
Oki appealed to the media to support government’s sensitisation efforts, pointing out that people in other countries live on water in an organised manner without residing under power lines.
He reiterated that the state government remains committed to protecting lives, improving the environment and ensuring orderly urban planning.
The Lagos State Government had earlier introduced a building permit amnesty programme in 2024 to help owners of unapproved structures regularise their documents.
The amnesty ran in three phases between May and December 2024, during which 18,489 applications were submitted and 8,856 permits issued.
Since then, government has begun removing unsafe and unapproved structures, starting with Oworonshoki, and has indicated that Makoko will face similar enforcement to safeguard lives and restore order.
(NAN)