Lagos government denies the demolition of property owned by brother Peter Obi

The Lagos state government officially denied the claims made by the former Governor of the State Anambra, Peter Obi, accused that a property that was said to have been illegally destroyed by the state authority.

In a statement issued Thursday by the Commissioner for information and strategies, Mr. GBENGA OMOTOSO, the government distanced itself from the incident and emphasized that there were no agents under control, including the Lagos State Building Control Agency (Lasbca), responsible for the demolition in question.

“The Lagos state government was forced to submit a new accusation made by Mr. Peter Obi regarding the demolition of his brother’s property,” the statement said. “We want to state categorically that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (Lasbca) or other arms of the Lagos state government does not carry out the demolition.”

The statement followed the public reaction to Obi’s comments, which suggested that the authorities were behind the demolition of the reported structure related to his family. Omotoso, however, described the accusation as unfounded and less verification.

According to the Commissioner, the question was carried out to ascertain whether an official demolition had been approved or executed by Lasbca. These questions, he said, confirmed that the agency was not involved.

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“Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, a special advisor to EGIS and city development, who directly oversees Lasbca, has confirmed that the agency was not involved in demolition. We felt disturbing that Peter Obi would make such accusations without verifying facts,” added the statement.

Omotoso further reiterated the commitment of the state government to the legal process and its compliance with the rule of law. He asserted that the state of Lagos maintains an attitude without tolerance in actions to violate the law, both by individuals, private entities, or public institutions.

“The Lagos state government will not tolerate acts of law violations or violations of the law that still exists,” Omotoso said.

The commissioner also urged the community to remain calm and ignore Obi’s statements, which he described as “efforts to discredit government integrity.” He convinced residents that the government remained focused on providing good governance and fostering a peaceful environment for all.

He added that in an effort to ensure transparency and establish facts around demolition, the government announced that they had begun internal investigations. Permanent Secretary of the Urban Development Office, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, FNIA, has been directed to deal with Lasbca to conduct a comprehensive review.

“In addition, we have directed the permanent secretary, the urban development office, to request a full investigation by the Lagos State Building Control Agency into this issue. This investigation will help clarify the situation around the demolition and ensure that the actions needed are taken,” the statement continued.

The commissioner concluded by emphasizing the openness of the state of the state and its commitment to protect the rights and welfare of all residents, regardless of their origin or political affiliation.

“The state government of Lagos welcomes everyone to live and work in the state, and we convince all the residents of our sustainable commitment to their safety and welfare,” he said.