Demolition: Lagos Government Issues Contravention Notice to Ikoyi Building Owners

The Lagos State Government has taken a decisive step in maintaining urban planning standards by serving contravention notices to property owners within the Shoreline Estate, Onikoyi Estate, Park View, and Banana Island corridors, whose properties encroach upon channel setbacks.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, delivered the announcement over the weekend after an inspection of key areas in Ikoyi, including the State House and Dodan Barracks. The government highlighted that numerous structures in these areas failed to adhere to the legally mandated three-meter setback required for secondary collector drains.

Wahab revealed, “Investigations uncovered that the initial property along Onikoyi/Banana Island collector, situated inside Onikoyi Estate, allowed only a 2.5-meter drainage setback. To maintain a balanced situation, we will graciously adopt the 2.5-meter setback, though smaller than the 3-meter requirement stipulated by law.”

The Commissioner issued a stern seven-day ultimatum for property owners along the mentioned corridor to dismantle fences encroaching on drainage channels. Following this notice, enforcement actions will promptly commence, and non-compliance may result in financial penalties.

Property owners and residents have been urged to voluntarily adjust their fences to comply with the 2.5-meter setback, emphasizing that failure to do so would lead to government intervention, incurring costs that will be billed to the property owners. The government’s commitment to upholding standards in urban development remains steadfast, ensuring a harmonious balance between infrastructure and private property.