State insists on due process as over a dozen buildings fall in controversial FESTAC operation
The Lagos State Government has firmly denied any involvement in the recent wave of demolitions that rocked FESTAC Town, disowning the exercise and describing it as unauthorised.
In a statement titled “Lagos Government Denies Involvement in FESTAC Demolition,” issued by Mukaila Sanusi, Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the government clarified that it neither ordered nor approved the demolition of structures that took place in the area earlier this month.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, who spoke through the statement, emphasised that the state government was not responsible for the demolition activities that left several buildings flattened at 6th Avenue, FESTAC. According to him, the exercise did not follow the due process normally required before such operations can be carried out.
Olumide stressed that Lagos State maintains a transparent and regulated procedure for all demolition exercises, which includes the issuance of statutory notices and engagement with affected property owners and stakeholders. He noted that any activity conducted outside this framework does not represent the policy or position of the present administration.
“We want to assure residents that the Lagos State Government remains committed to fairness, due process, and the protection of property rights. Any demolitions carried out without proper authorisation do not reflect the position or practice of this administration,” the commissioner stated.
He further called on all agencies, including federal institutions and other authorities operating within the state, to seek proper clearance from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development before embarking on any demolition-related activities. This, he said, is crucial to ensure coordination, legality, and protection of residents’ interests.
The clarification came amid growing outrage from residents and business owners in FESTAC Town, following the demolition of more than 15 buildings over the weekend. Eyewitnesses reported that bulldozers descended on the area in the early hours of the morning, moving from one structure to another, leaving shop owners and traders in distress as their properties were reduced to rubble.
Many of the affected occupants expressed shock, claiming they received no prior notice before the demolition exercise began. The development has sparked intense debate on social media, with calls for accountability and transparency regarding who ordered the operation.
The Lagos State Government, however, reiterated that it remains committed to urban orderliness and sustainable development, but only through lawful and transparent means. Officials urged residents to remain calm and assured that the state will continue to protect the rights of all law-abiding property owners while upholding established procedures in urban management.
With this clarification, the government seeks to distance itself from the controversial exercise and reaffirm its stance on procedural governance, stressing that no demolition within the state should occur without its explicit consent and adherence to laid-down regulations.
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