The Lagos State Government (LASG) has reaffirmed that its authority to enforce physical planning laws extends to the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo.
The state insists that despite the complex being located on federal land, developers are not exempt from complying with state building regulations.
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Oluyinka Olumide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, stated that the state’s legal jurisdiction is supported by a 2003 Supreme Court judgment and the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 (as amended).
“The location of the Trade Fair Complex on Federal Government land did not exempt developers from obtaining necessary planning permits from the Lagos State Government or adhering to the State’s physical planning laws,” the Commissioner said.
Olumide explained that the state has taken decisive action to halt the development of unauthorised and unsafe structures within the complex to ensure a “livable, organised, orderly and sustainable built environment,” which is critical to the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda.
He noted that the Trade Fair Complex has a history of non-compliance and has consistently refused to cooperate with efforts toward voluntary compliance.
This refusal persisted despite a specific request in November 2023 for all building constructions in the area to be regularised with the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
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The Commissioner stressed that the ongoing enforcement is part of the government’s regular efforts to promote safety and well-being across the entire state.
The New Daily Prime earlier reported that the state government on Thursday began the demolition of unauthorised and unsafe buildings at the Trade Fair Complex.
The operation was a collaborative effort involving several state agencies, including the Ministry of Physical Planning, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency.
Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the exercise on social media, stating that the action was taken to enforce physical planning laws and restore order.
The targeted structures included those built without necessary permits, defective buildings, and those illegally constructed on road setbacks and drainage channels.
The operation, which was backed by a team of security agencies, also included representatives from the Office of Infrastructure and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
