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Lagos government pull down structures built beneath high-tension lines.
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Occupants lament heavy losses, say they got short notice.
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Government insists demolition is for public safety and urban order.
The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, demolished shops, houses, and workshops erected under high-tension powerlines at the Joke Ayo area of the state.
The exercise, led by officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, was part of a renewed enforcement drive to eliminate illegal structures and safeguard lives.
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As bulldozers tore through the affected buildings, scavengers swarmed the scene, collecting iron rods, scrap metals, and other remains from the debris. Many affected residents wept uncontrollably as their properties were reduced to rubble.
One of the affected shop owners, Mrs. Kikelomo Nimota, said she was heartbroken by the development, revealing that she had just renewed her rent before the demolition notice was served.
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“I just paid for this shop not long ago. Before we knew it, we heard that the government would demolish all buildings under the powerline. I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly,” she lamented.
In a statement signed by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the government explained that the operation was aimed at enforcing urban planning regulations and preventing potential disasters.
According to the ministry, structures under powerlines violate safety standards and expose occupants to the risk of electrocution and fire outbreaks. The officials maintained that the exercise would continue in other parts of the state until full compliance is achieved.
