The Lagos State Government has denied claims that a property in Ikeja was demolished without legal approval. The response follows an allegation made by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate. Obi claimed that a building owned by his younger brother was pulled down without any proper legal backing.
Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, addressed the issue in a media chat. He stated that no demolition takes place in Lagos without following the law. “We follow the law in Lagos State. No building can be removed without due process,” he said. Omotoso added that he would speak with relevant agencies to confirm the details.
Peter Obi shared his account on social media. He said his brother’s company had owned the property for over 15 years. According to Obi, unknown individuals demolished the structure without presenting any court order. He described the situation as “coordinated lawlessness” and criticized what he called the breakdown of order in Nigeria.
Officials from two key agencies—Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA)—denied involvement. LABSCA’s spokesperson said the demolition did not come from their office. LASPPPA’s representative added that she was not aware of the incident and asked for any official documents that could identify the agency responsible.
Several government agencies in Lagos are authorized to enforce demolitions based on the type of violation. In this case, the responsible agency remains unclear. As of the time of reporting, no authority had taken responsibility, and the Commissioner was yet to follow up on his statement.
