Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency, and the welfare of residents affected by the demolition of environmentally unsafe buildings across the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking on behalf of the governor during the second phase of compensation for affected residents in Oworonshoki, Oladimeji Animashaun, General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), said all displaced persons would be resettled and adequately compensated.
Animashaun stressed that the government remains committed to ensuring that no resident is denied the right to own property in Lagos, even as it continues to clear structures posing environmental and safety risks.
“The very first time we compensated people, 79 affected persons collected their cheques. Today, another 100 people are receiving theirs. Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu promised that those affected would be compensated. That is promise made, promise fulfilled,” he said.
He added that the latest round of payments would not be the last, as many more residents are expected to be compensated in batches.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support.
Nwaoha Rosemary, who received ₦1 million, described the payment as a welcome relief.
Another beneficiary, Patrick Arinze, who received ₦3 million, said: “They have done the right thing at the right time. People complained, but what the government has done supersedes our concerns. If we had not received anything, what would we have done?”
Compensation amounts ranged from ₦1 million to ₦5 million, depending on the nature and value of each demolished property.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government recently refuted claims that it deliberately violated a subsisting court order by continuing demolitions in Oworonshoki. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the allegations as “false and unfair”, insisting no court order was served on any state agency before the latest exercise.
Pedro told reporters that although a court order was endorsed on October 24 — the same day part of the demolition took place — it had not been formally served.
“Even if the order was obtained that day, could it have been served on a Saturday? As at that time, no government office was aware of any such order,” he said.
He emphasised that government agencies cannot act on “verbal notice” of a court decision and that contempt cannot be established without proper service of the order.
Pedro criticised what he described as the misuse of court processes to obstruct public-interest actions, arguing that some litigants were using the judiciary “as an instrument of oppression” despite the government showing restraint.
He explained that the Oworonshoki demolition exercise started nearly a month earlier but was temporarily suspended on the directive of Governor Sanwo-Olu to allow residents time to relocate.
