Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said the demolition exercise going on in Makoko area of the state is for safety purpose.

According to him, some of the properties being demolished are situated under high tension electrical cables, posing danger to occupants.

Sanwo-Olu made this known while signing the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at the Lagos House in Ikeja.

He said: “People need to understand that it is a big city we are dealing with, and the emergency and safety of lives and properties are paramount that we need to prioritise.

"Of what interest would it be for the government to want to unduly demolish anybody’s property?

“What interest if it is not for the overall safety of the citizens we are talking about?

“A lot of the people have built shanties under the high tension wire, and the regulation is that you need to clear between 150 and 250 metres away from the high tension wire.

“We are not demolishing the whole of Makoko.

“We are clearing the shanties so they do not get to the Third Mainland Bridge and stay behind the high tension.

“We are aware that there are some local and international NGOs that want to profit from this.

“We are studying things, and we are going to show evidence.

“They have made so much money from international organisations and asked for so many grants and resources to go into those places.

“It is just for them to cover their own lies because they have not done what they said they were going to be doing.

“That is why they are all shouting and crying more than the bereaved.

“We have been on this for so many years, and we have evidence.

“The exercise was meant to be done in December 2024.

“We extended it all throughout 2025.

“So, we cannot be a lawless set of people.

“We cannot fold our arms and let calamity or disaster happen.”