The Lagos State Government has denied targeting Igbo with the ongoing demolition of houses across the state by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, refuted the claim on Wednesday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Mr Olumide stated that rather, the demolished buildings were hastily erected during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and were constructed without approval from any of the relevant agencies.

The commissioner said, “Anybody can own a building in Lagos so long as you go along with the laid-down rules. It’s unfortunate that maybe what we have, of recent, happens to concern those from certain parts of the country.

“Those buildings causing this uproar are buildings rushed during the COVID period when activities of enforcement officers are at the low ebb because of restriction of movement and you could see that when those buildings were demolished, nobody has come forward to say they were demolished under approval.”

The commissioner further challenged owners of the demolished structures to come forward with their building approvals.

“We will not demolish any approved building, that’s for sure. So, if there is anybody that has claims that their buildings were approved and demolished, let them come forward,” Mr Olumide stated.

The commissioner also disclosed that illegal structures on the drainage system would be pulled down, because, “buildings not done within the confines of the law are subject to demolition.”

The state government had in October announced plans to remove perimeter fences within two metres of drainage channels on the Norman Williams, Awolowo and Ribadu roads in the Ikoyi area of the state.

Demolition of illegal structures on the drainage system in the Orchid Road, Agungi, Ajiran, Conservation Road, Osapa, and Oral Estate II along the Ikota River of the state may take place on Monday.