Lagos demolishes structures under high-tension power lines in Ikola

By Adebola Muili

The Lagos State Government has commenced the demolition of structures erected under high-tension electricity power lines in Ikola, Lagos, as part of measures to avert possible disasters and protect residents in the area.

The exercise is being carried out by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

The development followed a communal clash in Ikola on Thursday, August 27, 2026, which reportedly claimed four lives, with the state government subsequently intensifying safety operations in the community.

In an e-statement issued on Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the affected area was an informal settlement located beneath high-tension electricity power lines.

He said structures within such corridors contravened national and international safety standards and exposed residents to risks including electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse.

Oke-Osanyintolu said relevant government agencies were immediately deployed to the area in line with the administration’s commitment to the preservation of lives and property.

He added that residents were given sufficient time to evacuate the area and retrieve their belongings before the commencement of the demolition.

“Communities were granted ample time to safely evacuate and recover personal belongings prior to the commencement of any demolition activity.

“This approach reflects the State’s policy of enforcing the law with empathy, ensuring that enforcement does not become an instrument of hardship,” he said.

The LASEMA Permanent Secretary disclosed that controlled demolition operations were ongoing and were being carried out with strict adherence to safety and professional standards.

He further said LASEMA’s heavy recovery equipment had been deployed to clear structures within the statutory right-of-way of the power lines, with a view to eliminating the hazard and restoring the corridor to its intended purpose.

According to him, while the state government recognises the right of citizens to shelter and livelihood, such rights must be balanced with the collective responsibility to prevent avoidable loss of lives.

“The right to shelter and livelihood must be balanced against the collective responsibility to prevent avoidable loss of life. No development is sustainable where it is built on avoidable risk,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu stressed that the intervention was not targeted at any ethnic group or community, but was aimed at addressing the safety risks posed by structures erected within restricted corridors.

He said the government would continue to engage community leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Ikola and across Lagos State to promote peaceful coexistence, enforce urban planning regulations and provide information on safe and approved areas for settlement.

He urged residents to desist from erecting structures under electricity power lines, gas pipelines and other restricted corridors, advising them to seek guidance from the appropriate authorities before putting up buildings.

“Lagos State remains committed to building a resilient, safe, and orderly megacity where the rule of law is upheld, and the lives of all residents are protected,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu also commended Ikola residents, community leaders and security agencies for their cooperation and support during the ongoing exercise.