Lagos govt urges Makoko residents to vacate buildings

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has urged residents of Makoko community to vacate buildings situated beneath high-tension power lines due to extreme dangers of electrocution, fires and structural damage.

Mr Gbolahan Oki, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, gave the advice in Lagos while addressing newsmen on some enforcement exercises.

Oki said the presence of structures under power lines violates physical planning laws and hinders the broader goals of urban planning and environmental sustainability for a safer, more resilient Lagos.

“Oworonshoki is not the only community affected. Makoko has become a high-risk zone because of the presence of electricity cables over homes and businesses.

“The agency has engaged stakeholders in the community, including traditional leaders and chairmen, to discuss the dangers of living in buildings under high-tension power lines.

“The high-tension lines transmit electricity at extremely high voltages, and being too close is a serious threat to human life,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a three-minute video documentary of one of the stakeholder meetings was shown to journalists during the chat.

“All the community leaders agree that the people living under the high-tension lines must leave,” he said.

According to him, the government cannot wait until a tragedy occurs, because the lives of citizens are more important than the economic activities in the area.