Trade Fair: We Remain Firm Against Illegal Structures- Lagos

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its stance on zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved development projects within the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of the state. A statement on X by Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, ...

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its stance on zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved development projects within the Trade Fair Complex in the Ojo area of the state.

A statement on X by Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, stated that all buildings within the complex must undergo full compliance with planning regulations and the attainment of a safe, orderly and sustainable physical environment.

The statement reads, “Trade Fair Complex: Zero Tolerance for Unapproved Developments Remains Non-Negotiable.

“⁠The Lagos State Government reiterates its zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved developments within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, pending full compliance with planning regulations and the attainment of a safe, orderly, and sustainable physical environment.”

The state condemned the dilapidating state of the complex into an unsafe structure posing a serious risk to public safety and emergency response, reiterating its decision to demolish unapproved buildings as one bore out in the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019.

“Over time, the Trade Fair Complex has degenerated into an enclave of haphazard and unsafe structures, posing grave risks to public safety and emergency response.

“In line with Sustainable Development Goal 11 — “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” — and the State’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, the Lagos State Government is acting strictly within its constitutional and statutory mandate, as derived from the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act 1992, as domesticated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019, and reinforced by the Supreme Court Judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation).

“These legal instruments empower states to regulate physical development within their territories, including federal lands, except for areas under exclusive federal use such as military formations,” the statement added.

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The state government further clarify land ownership and title in relation to the approval status of physical developments.

⁠”For clarity, land ownership and title are not in contention at the Trade Fair Complex. The ongoing enforcement focuses solely on the approval status of physical developments, as every structure in Lagos State must obtain a valid planning permit from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in accordance with the law,” the statement added.

TVC previously reported that the Lagos State Government has issued a fresh ultimatum to traders within the Trade Fair Complex to approach the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to seek the regularisation of the approval status of their buildings.

This was disclosed in a statement on X by Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday.

According to the statement, all developers and occupants of the structures within the complex are served a two-week time frame to sort all approval statuses of buildings in line with the extant regulations.