The Lagos State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the state government’s ongoing demolition of structures along shorelines and beneath high-tension power lines, signalling institutional support for an exercise that has sparked protests and public debate.
The Assembly’s position was articulated on Tuesday by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Stephen Ogundipe, who defended the demolitions as a necessary intervention to protect lives, enforce planning laws, and prevent future disasters.
The demolitions, carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, have focused largely on waterfront and high-risk areas, including Makoko and Oworonsoki, where informal settlements have expanded over time.
Last Thursday, affected Makoko residents staged a protest at the Assembly complex, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to halt further demolitions, arguing that the exercise has displaced families and disrupted livelihoods.
Responding to the protest, Ogundipe said the Assembly viewed the exercise not as punitive, but as a preventive measure rooted in public safety and urban order.
He expressed concern over what he described as the proliferation of unsafe structures along shorelines, which he said have increasingly become havens for criminal activity, vandalism of public infrastructure, and attacks on residents.
“Although the demolition exercise may be painful for those affected, it is a necessary step to protect the larger society and uphold the rule of law,” Ogundipe said, adding that the government has a responsibility to act before avoidable tragedies occur.
According to him, the Assembly considers the policy a forward-looking approach to urban management, aimed at reducing risks associated with flooding, electrocution, and environmental degradation in densely populated areas.
At the same time, Ogundipe acknowledged the social impact of the exercise, calling on residents to remain calm and engage constructively with government officials. He assured that concerns raised by affected communities would not be ignored.
The lawmaker also urged Lagos residents to comply with building regulations and planning approvals, stressing that collective responsibility is essential to preventing unsafe development and recurring enforcement actions.
While backing the demolitions, Ogundipe said the Assembly remains committed to ensuring that enforcement is balanced with empathy, noting that affected residents should not be abandoned during the transition.
The Assembly’s stance underscores the widening tension between urban regulation and social protection in Lagos, as the state grapples with population growth, informal settlements, and the challenge of enforcing planning laws without deepening public resentment.