Lagos Government Demolishes Influencer Ola of Lagos’ Popular Car Showroom

The Lagos State Government has demolished the popular car showroom owned by social media influencer and car dealer, Waris Olayinka Akinwande, popularly known as Ola of Lagos. News of the demolition surfaced on Saturday evening after another car dealer, Ibilo, shared a viral TikTok video showing the remains of the destroyed property. In the clip, the caption read: “Lagos State Government Demolishes OOL Autos. Heavy one today.”

As of Sunday morning, the Lagos State Government had not issued an official statement regarding the demolition, leaving the reason for the action unconfirmed. However, widespread speculation on social media suggests that the structure was built beneath a high-tension power line, allegedly violating the state’s safety and urban planning regulations.

Several users commented on the development, with one TikTok user, Adekunle Autoparts, claiming, “They demolished it because he built it under a power line.” Another user, Sisi Noni, expressed mixed feelings, writing, “The first time I saw this structure, I noticed the high tension. Building under it is very risky, but they could have asked him to relocate instead of destroying everything.”

The incident comes just as the Lagos State Government intensifies efforts to clear illegal structures across the city. On Saturday, the state demolished at least 17 houses built on the Right of Way of the Ikota River alignment in Lekki. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who led the enforcement team, warned that the government would continue to remove buildings obstructing drainage and natural waterways.

Wahab explained that his ministry had earlier halted illegal reclamation activities in the area but received reports that the encroachment had resumed. “We stopped them then, but we were alerted again recently that the encroachment had resumed aggressively, with attempts to sell to unsuspecting buyers,” he said. He emphasized that the latest demolitions form part of the state’s broader plan to reclaim and protect flood-prone zones, adding that those responsible for illegal developments would face prosecution.

Evidence recovered from the Lekki demolition site reportedly included sand-filling operations, ongoing reclamation works, and several partially completed buildings constructed directly on natural water channels.