Editorial: Building a better Lagos requires order, not illegal structures

The recent demolition of shanties and illegal structures along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway by the Lagos State Government has once again brought to the fore the difficult balance between urban renewal and the welfare of vulnerable citizens. While the images of bulldozers clearing makeshift settlements inevitably evoke sympathy for those displaced, it is equally important to confront an uncomfortable truth. No city aspiring to global standards can afford to tolerate the unchecked spread of illegal structures and shanties.

Lagos is the nation’s commercial nerve centre, home to well over 20 million people and one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban areas. Every available piece of land is under immense pressure. Roads, rail lines, drainage systems, public spaces and utility corridors are critical infrastructure that ought to be protected from encroachment if the city is to remain functional.

Illegal structures erected along highways, drainage channels, railway corridors and public rights of way present serious dangers. They obstruct traffic improvement projects, complicate road expansion, increase the risk of accidents and often prevent emergency responders from gaining access during disasters. In many instances, they also block drainage channels, contributing significantly to the perennial flooding that disrupts lives and destroys property whenever heavy rains fall.

Beyond environmental concerns lies the issue of public safety. Densely packed informal settlements frequently lack proper sanitation, waste disposal systems, potable water and electricity supplied through legal means. Such conditions foster disease outbreaks, environmental degradation and fire disasters. It may also be difficult for law enforcement agencies to police such settlements effectively, thus, creating opportunities for criminal elements to hide among law-abiding residents.

The economic consequences are equally significant. Investors are attracted to cities that are orderly, predictable and governed by the rule of law. Urban disorder discourages investment, reduces property values in adjoining neighbourhoods and increases the cost of providing public services. A city burdened by widespread illegal development finds itself spending enormous resources correcting problems that could have been prevented through effective planning and enforcement.

The challenge is not unique to Lagos. Other rapidly expanding Nigerian cities such as Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Ibadan face similar pressures. Population growth, rural to urban migration, unemployment and an acute housing shortage have fuelled the expansion of informal settlements across the country. Ignoring these realities would merely postpone a crisis that grows more expensive with each passing year.

Nevertheless, government action must always be guided by fairness, transparency and humanity. Demolition should never become an end in itself or appear arbitrary. Authorities must ensure that affected persons receive adequate notice in accordance with the law. Where possible, genuine efforts should be made to identify vulnerable families and provide relocation options or access to affordable housing schemes. Urban renewal should improve lives, not merely remove structures.

Equally important is the need to prevent the re-emergence of illegal settlements after demolition exercises. This requires continuous monitoring, stronger physical planning institutions and firm enforcement against land grabbers and individuals who profit from selling or leasing land they have no legal right to occupy. Corruption within enforcement agencies must also be tackled decisively, as illegal developments rarely flourish without official negligence or outright collusion.

The Federal Government and state governments must also address the root causes of informal housing. Nigeria’s housing deficit remains enormous, while affordable accommodation is beyond the reach of millions of low-income earners. Expanding social housing, encouraging private sector investment in affordable homes and improving public transportation to emerging residential areas would reduce the pressure on city centres and infrastructure corridors.

Citizens, too, have responsibilities. Individuals must resist the temptation to erect buildings without planning approval or occupy public land unlawfully. Respect for urban planning regulations is not merely a legal obligation. It is a civic duty that benefits everyone through safer roads, cleaner neighbourhoods and more resilient cities.

Lagos cannot aspire to become a globally competitive megacity while allowing illegal structures to undermine carefully planned infrastructure. Equally, urban renewal cannot succeed if it overlooks the social realities that drive people into informal settlements. The lasting solution lies in combining firm enforcement with compassionate governance, sound urban planning and a sustained commitment to affordable housing.

The clearance of illegal structures along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway should therefore be seen not as an isolated demolition exercise but as part of a broader vision for a safer, cleaner and better organised Lagos. Nigerian cities deserve nothing less.