Barely 11 months after the Lagos State Government demolished shops, houses and other structures built beneath high-tension power lines at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo, new structures are springing up in the same area.

A contractor is currently erecting shops and other buildings beneath the power lines at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), raising fresh concerns over public safety and allegations of underhand approvals for the development.

The development is particularly worrying because the government had, during the demolition exercise, warned that structures built within power-line rights-of-way were illegal and posed serious risks to lives and property.

The authorities had also maintained that encroachment on power-line corridors violated planning regulations.

However, residents and traders in areas affected by similar demolitions have alleged that the government later allowed the cleared spaces to be redeveloped, particularly by individuals with the financial capacity to undertake large projects.

The Guardian’s investigation revealed that construction work had resumed at the Jakande Gate site, with foundations laid and shops being erected beneath the high-tension lines.

In the course of the investigation, The Guardian contacted the engineer handling the project, Abiodun Isikalu, posing as a prospective buyer.

Isikalu said interested buyers were required to purchase a form for N25,000 before paying for a shop.

“There is a form that costs N25,000 that you need to buy. After getting the form, you make payment for the shop,” he said.

Asked about the prices, he said the shops at the rear cost N1.5 million, while those at the front cost N2 million.

“The one at the back costs N1.5 million, while the one at the front is N2 million. The purchase will last for 25 years,” he said.

The development has also sparked concerns from property owners whose lands, they alleged, are being encroached upon by the new construction.

Pastor Victor Olorunsola of Deeper Life Bible Church, Oke-Afa, said the church became aware of the development about a month ago after officials of the Ejigbo council began to demolish shops attached to its fence.

According to him, the church had deliberately maintained the required setback because of the high-tension lines and was surprised when construction began on the cleared land.

“We came to the church about a month ago and discovered that Ejigbo Local Council officials were pulling down the shops attached to our fence at the back. Before then, they had cleared shops and houses under the high-tension lines.

“We deliberately left the setback because of the tension wires. When the government cleared the shops attached to our fence, we thought it would be an opportunity, but before we could conclude the arrangement, we saw people moving in and starting to lay foundations to build shops,” he said.

Olorunsola said the church later learnt that the construction had allegedly been sanctioned by the local council and made several attempts to meet the council chairman.

“We found out that the local council sanctioned the building, and we decided to visit the council. We went there three times, and the chairman refused to see us the last time. He said he had no control over the place,” he said.

He alleged that the developers had also encroached on other people’s properties, adding that one property owner had arrested some of those allegedly found erecting blocks on his land.

Olorunsola further expressed concern over reports that the church’s fence could be pulled down.
“We learnt from a source that the chairman of the council and the Oba of Ejigbo are mobilising to pull down the fence of our church, so we are calling on the government to stop the action.

“The encroachment is illegal. The setback should be free from any kind of activity,” he said.

When contacted, the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Taoheed Adebayo Taiwo, denied knowledge of the new shops.

“I know nothing about it, thank you,” he said.

The development appears to contradict the Lagos State Government’s stated position on construction beneath high-tension power lines.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Electronic Geographic Information System (EGIS) and Urban Development, Olajide Babatunde, had said the government would no longer tolerate habitation or commercial activities beneath high-tension power lines or in other restricted areas.

He stressed that such activities endangered lives and property, adding that enforcement would be intensified to ensure compliance with planning regulations, protect critical infrastructure and safeguard residents.

Also reacting to the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, reiterated the government’s position.

“Building under high-tension lines is dangerous to health, life and wellbeing, and the Lagos State Government will not encourage it,” Omotoso said.

“It’s illegal to build there, and the government will see to it,” he added.

The renewed construction has therefore left residents and affected property owners questioning how structures cleared on safety grounds could reappear in the same location less than a year after the demolition.

For the Deeper Life Bible Church and other property owners in the area, the immediate concern is not only the legality of the new development but also the safety implications of allowing commercial activities to return beneath high-tension power lines.