By HeadlineNews.News Editorial Team
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital and one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centres, stands at a critical juncture. As the city pursues world-class development ambitions through mega-projects like the Eko Atlantic City on Victoria Island—a bold vision of urban renewal and economic strength—its credibility is being undermined by glaring failures in basic regulatory enforcement, particularly in its building control sector.
In the Ifako area of Lagos, residents are raising alarms over a four-storey structure built on an undersized plot with no setbacks, in blatant violation of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) regulations. The danger posed by such construction is not theoretical—it is real, immediate, and deeply alarming. And yet, such violations continue, enabled by pervasive corruption within regulatory agencies that appear unwilling or unable to act.
Even more disturbing is the situation unfolding in Victoria Island, the city’s premium district and home to the prestigious Eko Atlantic project—a multimillion-dollar smart city initiative designed to attract global investors. Just a few streets away from this beacon of modernity, a ten-storey hotel is reportedly being constructed on a narrow residential street with no provision for parking, no setbacks, and clear violations of zoning laws. Investigations suggest the developer, allegedly a UK-based Nigerian with political affiliations, has openly boasted of “buying everyone in Alausa” and claims immunity from accountability—even asserting that not even President Tinubu, who owns a guest house on the street, can halt the project.
Furthermore, right in front of the Lagos State Deputy Governor’s Residence in ikoyi is a development built with a 2/3m setback in a zone of 13m setback, are the relevant agencies not aware of this infraction? There are too many examples in Lagos all the way from the exclusive areas to the suburbs.
This is not just an urban planning issue. It is a test of governance. If lawlessness is allowed to fester beside flagship projects like Eko Atlantic, the contrast between vision and reality becomes painfully stark. The same city positioning itself as the future of African investment and innovation cannot simultaneously enable unregulated, unsafe, and illegal developments through administrative corruption and executive silence.
The Detty December festivals and Lagos’ vibrant entertainment economy brought in billions of naira in 2024, reinforcing its global reputation as a cultural and commercial hub. But that hard-won image is at risk if building collapses and unchecked urban chaos become the new headlines.
It is time for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the state government to act decisively. Enforce building regulations. Sanction erring developers. Clean up the regulatory institutions compromised by bribes and patronage.
Lagos must not become a city where the rule of law bends to money and power. Its future as a modern, safe, and livable megacity depends on integrity and leadership. The promise of Eko Atlantic—and of Lagos itself—deserves nothing less.
Headlinenews.news special report.
