Lagos Warns Makoko Residents to Vacate Buildings Under Power Lines

The Lagos State Government has advised residents of Makoko to vacate buildings erected directly beneath high-tension power lines, warning of the dangers of electrocution, fire outbreaks, and structural hazards.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, issued the warning on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Lagos on recent enforcement exercises.

According to him, structures built under power lines violate physical planning regulations and threaten the state’s long-term goals of urban safety and environmental sustainability.

“Makoko has become a high-risk zone because electricity cables run directly over homes and businesses. The high-tension lines transmit power at extremely high voltages, posing a serious threat to human life,” Oki said.

He explained that the Lagos State Building Control Agency had been engaging stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders, to sensitise them about the risks. A video of one such meeting was shown to journalists, with Oki noting that community leaders themselves admitted the need for residents to relocate.

“The government cannot wait until a tragedy occurs. The lives of citizens are more important than economic activities in the area. People must move away from danger zones,” he stressed.

Oki cautioned against politicising the enforcement process, saying some residents had resisted compliance under the belief that political factors would halt government action.

“The next time you see us in Makoko, people may claim the government acted suddenly. That is why we are providing evidence of our engagements with the community,” he added.

The permanent secretary urged the media to support sensitisation efforts, stressing that while waterfront living exists in other countries, it is done in an organised and safe manner—not beneath high-tension lines.

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to safeguarding lives, improving the environment, and enforcing urban planning laws.

Lagos had in 2024 introduced a building permit amnesty programme to enable owners of unapproved structures to regularise their documents. Out of 18,489 applications received, 8,856 permits were issued before the programme ended in December 2024.

Since then, the government has begun demolishing unsafe structures, starting with Oworonshoki, and signalled that Makoko will face similar enforcement to protect lives and restore order.