Lagos State Government averts mass demolitions with human-centered regularisation strategy
Segun Atanda/
the Lagos State Government has resolved a decade-long land ownership crisis affecting the Okun-Ajah and Mayegun communities, offering legal reprieve to over 200 property allottees who had faced the threat of eviction.
The Honourable Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ekundayo Alebiosu, announced the breakthrough at a ministerial press briefing held in Alausa on Tuesday. He credited the successful resolution to the visionary and people-first governance style of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
“For over ten years, hundreds of residents lived in fear of losing their homes due to ownership disputes,” Alebiosu said. “Governor Sanwo-Olu’s intervention provided a legal and humane alternative that prioritised dialogue and dignity over demolition and displacement.”
Many affected residents were found to have unknowingly encroached on government land due to administrative gaps and misinformation. Rather than enforce mass evictions, the government created a path for lawful occupancy through a regularisation process that saw allottees issued legal land documents, including electronic survey copies.
“This is a victory for humanity, for peace, and for forward-thinking governance,” the Commissioner said. “We brought stakeholders to the table, not to fight, but to find solutions. The outcome is a testament to what compassionate leadership can achieve.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Obasi, expressed gratitude on receiving his documentation: “I want to sincerely thank the Lagos State Government for fulfilling this promise. Receiving my e-survey copy today gives me great joy and renewed confidence in the process.”
The move not only preserves the homes and businesses of hundreds of residents but also underscores the Sanwo-Olu administration’s broader vision for inclusive urban development, where infrastructure growth does not come at the cost of human welfare.
“This isn’t just about land,” Alebiosu added. “It’s about sending a clear message that in Lagos, development and compassion go hand in hand.”
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