The Lagos government has debunked allegations on social media that it condones physical planning laws violations by developers in Osborne Foreshore Phase II and Peace Valley Estate, Magodo.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Idris Salako, stated this in Alausa on Monday.

In a statement, Mr. Salako said a social media user who claimed to be an “urban planner/planning advocate” made wrong assumptions and insinuations about Osborne Foreshore Phase II and Peace Valley Zone residents Magodo.

He said the accuser alleged that the residents lamented some developers’ activities “whose development on the two estates violate the extant Operative Development Plans and the Approval Order for the localities.”

The commissioner said the publication also alleged the introduction of new Building Approval Order 2013-2033, sequel to the change of estate’s Master Plan, and wrongful classification and change of the Osborne Foreshore Phase II Approval Order without consulting residents.

“It was important to correct the misinformation being peddled in the social media report and to disabuse the minds of Lagosians by setting the records straight,” he noted.

Contrary to the insinuations, the residents of Osborne Foreshore Phase II, according to the commissioner, “influenced the increase in the height of the area from the original 4/5 to 10 floors, while Phase I still remained 4/5 floors.”

Mr. Salako added, “The Revised Plan will still be subjected to stakeholders’ engagement before final approval. It is therefore disheartening that in spite of repeated dialogue, the latest of which was held with the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, three weeks ago, the best that the Osborne- Foreshore Residents Association Phase II (OSFRA) could do was to resort to the social media to intimidate and embarrass the Lagos state government.”

Salako insisted that “no amount of pressure would compel the government to outsource its responsibility for physical planning to groups or individuals.”

(NAN)