Lagos estate residents petition Sanwo-Olu over ‘illegal’ gorge construction
Residents of Magodo Phase II Estate in Lagos have petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, accusing state officials of aiding developers in carrying out illegal construction in a landlocked area designated as a gorge in the state’s master plan.
In a statement signed by Niyi Odusi, Chairman of the Magodo Residents Association (MRA), the residents described the development as a threat to the safety of lives, properties, and existing infrastructure.
They explained that the gorge serves as a natural water collection point, supported by vegetation and sand mass that protect the elevated terrain, and warned that the site is prone to mudslides, flooding, and other environmental hazards.
The residents alleged that developers, in connivance with some officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning, were proceeding with construction despite the location being unsuitable for buildings. They recalled that previous attempts to develop the site had failed due to its designation as a gorge in the estate’s original master plan.
According to the petition, the developers recently sought to legitimise the project by inviting state agencies to demolish an uncompleted structure at the site, accompanied by armed security personnel. The residents said this move was intended to intimidate them from questioning the project’s safety implications.
They further claimed that the demolition process created health hazards, disturbed the peace, and caused damage to surrounding properties in the estate’s Green Valley Zone (Oko Filling area).
The association urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to issue a stop order on the ongoing activities and direct relevant agencies to revert to the original plan for the location. They also demanded that the developer restore the natural setting of the site.
Should the government permit construction, the residents insisted that adequate drainage and road infrastructure be provided to safeguard lives and properties. They also called for indemnity against any future damage or risks to residents of the estate’s south-east zone.
