The Lagos State Government has intensified safety operations in Ikola community, with the controlled demolition of structures built beneath high-tension electricity lines.
The government said the exercise was part of efforts to protect residents from the risks of electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse.
The intervention was led by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), following recent communal tensions in the area and the discovery of extensive informal settlements within the high-voltage power-line corridor.
According to a statement by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the operation was focused on addressing the safety hazards posed by structures erected within the statutory right-of-way of electricity transmission lines.
The state government clarified that the exercise was not targeted at any ethnic group or community, but was aimed at addressing what it described as a dangerous structural situation that poses serious risks to residents.
LASEMA said affected communities were given adequate notice and sufficient time to evacuate and retrieve their belongings before the demolition commenced. It described the exercise as a coordinated, humane and orderly intervention.
The agency also deployed heavy recovery equipment to clear the structures and restore the power-line corridor to its intended purpose.
The Lagos State Government said the recent clash between Hausa and Yoruba residents in Ikola had further underscored the need to address broader public safety concerns in the community.
It stressed that while residents have the right to shelter and livelihood, such rights must be balanced with the collective responsibility to prevent avoidable loss of life.
The government also pledged to continue engaging community leaders, traditional rulers and other 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 constructing buildings under power lines, gas pipelines and other restricted corridors. He also advised residents to consult relevant authorities before embarking on construction projects.
The government said the exercise forms part of its broader efforts to build a safer, more resilient and orderly Lagos while protecting lives and upholding the rule of law.
