Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, said he would continue to demolish shanties in Lagos.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said this during a town hall meeting involving security stakeholders at Ikeja, adding that his administration will also confiscate abandoned buildings.

He explained that the shanties, abandoned buildings, and vehicles were hideouts for criminals.

The governor said he had demolished hundreds of shanties and illegal structures in the state since November 2020.

“These shanties, by serving as hideouts for criminals, have exacerbated the insecurity situation in Lagos state. This cleanup exercise will continue, even as we strive to ensure the creation of jobs and economic opportunities that will take people off the streets and give them the wherewithal to afford decent accommodation.

“In the context of security, is to ensure that we contain and arrest every form of aggression and crime that threatens the development, progress, and growth of the state. By so doing improve upon the welfare and quality of life of the citizens,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said abandoned buildings and property were being monitored, as hoodlums and miscreants were converting them into crime havens, from which they plan and launch their criminal missions.

He pointed out that the state had commenced full implementation and enforcement of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2019 as amended.

According to him, the law prohibits the abandonment of buildings, under construction or completed, and construction workers from remaining within the premises of buildings under construction, from 6:00 p.m.

He said that government would hold property developers and owners responsible for any breaches of the laws and would not hesitate to seal them off.

According to the governor, the state is rolling out fibre optic cables to support the deployment of CCTV cameras for round-the-clock surveillance.

(NAN)