By Ghazali Ibrahim
Just like the reason gave by Lagos State authorities to read down Makoko communities, the government is preparing to tear down homes and informal buildings in parts of Alagbado/Oke-Odo that are built directly beneath high-tension electrical cables, a move officials say is necessary to protect lives and critical infrastructure.
The enforcement action, led by the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority (LASISMA) and other planning agencies, targets structures that encroach on restricted power line corridors in the busy Lagos suburban district.
Notices have reportedly been served to property occupants, warning that demolition teams could move in soon to remove the buildings.
Government officials have repeatedly stressed that residences and commercial structures built under or too close to transmission cables pose serious safety hazards, including risks of electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse.
Similar clearance drives have taken place in other parts of Lagos where people lived under high-voltage lines or other restricted-use corridors.
Community reactions have been mixed. Some residents and local groups say the demolition plan could displace families with limited options for safer housing, while others acknowledge safety concerns but urge that alternative shelter and fair compensation be part of the process.
Videos and eyewitness accounts shared online show scattered demolitions of small homes and kiosks around the Joke Ayo and Amikanle areas of Alagbado, attributed by local users to the power-line clearance policy.
Urban planners and government spokespersons argue the policy is part of a broader effort by the Lagos State Government to enforce building codes, secure critical infrastructure and reduce avoidable hazards in densely populated settlements.
As of now, there’s no official timeline for when the demolitions will begin or how many structures will be affected, but the notice from authorities has heightened both concern and urgency among residents in Alagbado/Oke-Odo.
