The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has said that a video circulating on social media regarding an illegal building attachment in the Lekki area of the state was intended to mislead the public.

The agency’s clarification follows a video in which Real Housewives of Lagos reality TV star Chioma Ikokwu lamented the demolition of her property via her Instagram story on Thursday.

The property housed her hair business and restaurant in Lekki.

She noted that while the property was being demolished, she and her team were making efforts to pack what was left into a truck. However, they met resistance from some policemen, who allegedly stopped them from moving their belongings and intimidated them.

In a video monitored by newsmen, a male police officer was seen attempting to stop the video recording, saying, “Comot this thing [sic]. I’ll slap you.”

“These people are claiming Lagos State [sic]. You have come. They have started demolishing our property. I said to them, ‘Okay, no problem.’ We pulled everything up here. From the containers to everything that is up here. We would take our things by ourselves. We got a truck and started doing that. We started moving our things out, grip by grip,” she said.

“No problem. You have destroyed and demolished things. Even embarrassed us in front of our clients. Now, why are you still stopping us from moving our stuff out using policemen and all sorts of things to intimidate us? I do not understand. And you are claiming Lagos State. Someone should get Sanwo-Olu on the line. He needs to intervene in this,” the reality TV star said.

Reacting to this on Thursday via its official X handle, the agency, in a statement issued by its Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Adu Adegoke, said it had notified the owner of the illegal property to remove it after several notices had been served.

The statement, which quoted LASBCA General Manager Gbolahan Oki, faulted the owner for removing the attachment illegally.

He said the owner failed to obtain a “Demolition Permit from the agency; an act that disregarded the Lagos State Building Codes and Regulations.”

The statement read, “The attention of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) has been drawn to a misleading video circulating online regarding the removal of an illegal attachment to a building by its owners at 1A Olubunmi Owa Street, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

“In line with the Lagos State Government’s commitment to urban regeneration, sustainable development, and the elimination of environmental and security nuisances, LASBCA instructed the owner of the illegal attachment to remove it after multiple notices, including convention, seal-off, and quit notices, had been duly served on the occupants.”

Quoting the general manager, the statement added, “Reacting to the viral video, LASBCA General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki clarified that the agency followed all due processes, which instructed the occupants to lawfully remove the attachment, but the owner proceeded with illegal removal of the attachment without obtaining a Demolition Permit from the agency. This act disregarded the Lagos State Building Codes and Regulations.

“During LASBCA’s routine monitoring exercise of the area, the illegal demolition of the property carried out by the owner was discovered, and our officials faced resistance from some occupants who had failed to adhere strictly to the State Building Laws.

“It is important to note that the video circulating on social media aims to mislead the public and garner undue sympathy for individuals who have continued to violate building and environmental regulations of the state.”

Oki further stated that in the same video, “the author admitted to being served the necessary notices, which undermines the claims made in their narrative and still went ahead to carry out an illegal demolition.”

The LASBCA boss urged the public to “disregard the misleading video and support the government’s efforts towards a cleaner, safer, and more organised Lagos,” adding that the agency “remains resolute in its mission to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable urban development across Lagos State and will not be deterred by attempts to distort facts or manipulate public perception.”

Olayiwola Ajisafe Ajisafe is a multimedia journalist and digital copy editor with over four years experience

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