Why we are demolishing shanties — Ogun

The ongoing demolition of shanties in Mowe-Ibafo, Isheri and Magboro areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by the Ogun State Government is to ensure a peaceful, safe and better organised environment.

The General Manager, Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Board, Mr. Abiodun Adewolu, who gave this explanation while monitoring the exercise on Thursday, said though demolition of structures was government was left with no other choice than to pull the shanties down in order to prevent the springing up of illegal structures, which might make nonsense of plans to control physical developments in the state.

Adewolu, according to a statement made available by the Information Officer of the bureau, Ms. Victoria Taiwo, notes that the construction of the shanties contravened the physical planning and environmental law of the state, adding that it was important that the structures gave way in order to achieve a well organised and safe environment.

He said occupiers of such structures had been served contravention notices over a year ago to allow them make alternative arrangements for relocation.

“Government did not just wake up and say these shanties must give way today. The ministry and the zonal town planning officers had served the occupants of these shanties contravention notices more than a year. Also, in December last year, senior ministry officials and political appointees in the ministry, as well as officials of the Ministry of Environment had a meeting with the occupants informing them of the demolition exercise,” he said.

While noting that hoodlums had been discovered to be using some of the shanties as hideouts to carry out their evil acts along the expressway, Adewolu said many innocent souls had been lost as a result of their nefarious activities, adding that it was hazardous for people to live under high tension wire as was the case with some of the shanties around the area.

“What we are doing is in the interest of everybody, especially the poor. We don’t want any shanty to undermine the health of the people.

“If anybody wants to build, he or she should possess building plan approval from the state Ministry of Physical Planning, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,” he said.

PUNCH