The Lagos State Government on Thursday moved to demolish illegal and unsafe structures at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, in a bid to restore order and enforce physical planning laws.

Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, who confirmed the exercise in a post on X, said the operation was targeted at “illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages.”

According to him, the government could no longer fold its arms while unapproved developments blocked critical infrastructure and endangered lives.

“The Lagos State Government has begun removal of illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals and defective structures, and structures built on road setback and drainages in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Local Government area,” Gawat said.

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The operation was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, and the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.

Also present were the Office of Infrastructure, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, and security agencies who provided backup during the exercise.

Bulldozers were seen pulling down marked structures, while some traders and shop owners looked on with concern over the impact on their businesses.

The Sanwo-Olu administration has consistently warned residents against erecting buildings without proper approvals or blocking drainage channels, stressing that such violations contribute to flooding, traffic congestion, and urban disorder in Lagos.

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The removal of these structures is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to protect infrastructure and safety, as Lagos remains highly congested and illegal developments blocking drainage and roads only compound flooding, traffic gridlock, and urban disorganisation.

However, past exercises have triggered backlash from displaced residents, who claim loss of homes and insufficient notice.

In Oworonshoki, for instance, many said they were not given adequate time to relocate or safeguard their belongings.

The PUNCH reports that Lagos State had run a government-mandated amnesty programme that allowed owners of unapproved or irregular buildings to regularise their structures without penalty. That window, which had been extended multiple times, recently expired, and enforcement actions have grown in various parts of the state.

As the amnesty ended, LASBCA began active removal of illegal constructions across the city, especially in areas where structures obstruct drainage channels, block road setbacks, or are deemed unsafe or defective.

The police in Imo State have charged an Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, with cyberstalking and defamation of character following two opinion articles written by the lawyer criticising the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Agu was scheduled to be arraigned before the magistrates’ court in Owerri on Wednesday but the case was stalled as chief magistrates in the court were away for an official function.

The spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that Agu would be arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

“Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., will be arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri on allegations bordering on cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The arraignment is in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye said.

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Agu, a known critic of Governor Uzodimma’s administration, was arrested on Tuesday after honouring a fresh police invitation.

His arrest followed a petition by the Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, accusing the lawyer of publishing inciting articles.

Several lawyers thronged the court on Wednesday, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge; Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Damian Nosike; and a former NBA Owerri Chairman, Chief Stanley Imo (SAN).

However, after waiting for hours without proceedings, Nosike informed them that no chief magistrate was available.

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“We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Barr. Chinedu Agu. The police said they will take him back to their office and return him to court tomorrow. The matter cannot be heard today,” Nosike told his colleagues.

Agu has recently gained attention through a series of opinion pieces critical of the Uzodimma administration.

On August 30, 2025, he published an article titled,“Tears from Enugu: A lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins,” followed the next day by another one titled,“Imo State — where justice is on vacation during court vacation”.

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In response, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, wrote a rebuttal titled, “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State”.

Meanwhile, Agu has insisted Imo Democratic Alliance, which wrote a petition leading to his arrest, is a fictitious organisation, claiming it is neither registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission nor traceable to any physical address.

He alleged that the petition against him was sponsored by Emelumba.

Agu’s arraignment is now expected to hold today (Thursday).

The Nigeria Police Force has declared one Okoro Prince Nkemakolam wanted for alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, assault, threat to life, and criminal breach of trust.

The Force made this known in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin released via its official X handle on Thursday.

The Force stated that Nkemakolam is wanted by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL), and the Head National Central Bureau, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

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The bulletin stated, “The above-named person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by the High Court of Abuja.

“He is wanted for the offence of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, threat to life, criminal breach of trust, and attempted murder by attacking the complainant with a machete and knife to the extent that he was admitted and stitched all over his head and his body, escaping death by the whiskers.”

The police described Nkemakolam as a 38-year-old man of medium height and build, with copper complexion and a square-shaped face.

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According to the police, the suspect dresses in western clothes and speaks Igbo fluently, and was last seen in Benin/Abakaliki in Umobo community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Force urged members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the Interpol, Force Headquarters, Abuja, through 080622129151.