Lagos Ministry of Housing Sets Deadline for Demolition of Illegal Estate Structures
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State Government has given residents living in state-owned housing estates a four-month deadline to remove all illegal structures and building extensions that violate approved estate plans.
In a statement issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, the government warned that any construction carried out outside the officially approved layout of the estates must be dismantled within the stipulated period or face enforcement action.
The directive was reiterated during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Alausa Secretariat, where the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abdulhafis Toriola, addressed concerns about widespread unauthorised modifications in government estates.
The meeting, held in the ministry’s conference room, brought together officials and executives of the Ojokoro Estate Residents Association from Meiran to discuss the growing number of illegal building extensions within the estate.
Toriola said the extent of the unauthorised developments became clear during a recent inspection visit.
“The ministry will not fold its arms and allow the distortion of the original master plan of any state-owned estate,” he said.
He added that allottees had been informed of the rules governing their properties before allocation, as clearly outlined in the Allottee’s Guide.
“Any breach of these provisions will attract appropriate sanctions,” he warned.
At the end of the meeting, stakeholders agreed that all identified violations within the estate must be removed within four months.
Toriola also disclosed that the ministry had secured the necessary approval to demolish illegal structures and begin restoring the estate to its original planning design and specifications.
According to him, the exercise is aimed at correcting planning violations, improving security and enhancing the overall appearance of the estate, rather than punishing homeowners.
The Permanent Secretary also addressed claims by some residents who said they had obtained approval from the Lagos Building Investment Company for certain building alterations.
However, Tosin Olugbile dismissed the claims, stating that no such approvals had been granted.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Ojokoro Estate Residents Association, Taiwo Akinde, expressed concern over the increasing number of unauthorised structures across the estate. He said the residents’ association supports the government’s plan to restore order to the community.
As part of efforts to engage residents, directors from the ministry and members of its Monitoring and Compliance team attended the association’s general meeting on 28 February 2026, where residents were briefed on the government’s position and the importance of complying with estate regulations.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, Toriola emphasised that safeguarding state-owned housing estates is a shared responsibility between the government and residents.
“State-owned housing estates are planned communities developed to specific standards. Any alteration inconsistent with approved plans compromises infrastructure integrity, environmental balance and public safety,” he said.
The Lagos State Government has therefore urged residents in all its housing estates to comply strictly with the established guidelines, warning that it will take necessary action to protect public assets and preserve the structural and environmental integrity of its housing developments.
