Magodo phase II residents petition Sanwo-Olu Over illegal construction on gorge

Residents of Magodo Phase II, Lagos, have raised alarm over what they described as illegal construction activities on a landlocked gorge within the estate, warning that the development poses serious environmental and safety threats to lives and property in the area.

In a petition addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and signed by Niyi Odusi, Chairman of the Magodo Residents Association (MRA), the community expressed deep concerns about ongoing construction on land originally designated as a natural gorge in the Lagos State master plan.

According to the residents, the area in question—located at the Green Valley Zone (Oko Filling) of the estate—is a natural water collection point supported by sand and vegetation that stabilizes the elevated portions of the terrain.

They warned that any construction on the land could trigger floods, mudslides, and other environmental disasters, given the fragile nature of the topography.

“The nature of the location does not support the development of buildings,” the statement reads. “It is prone to mudslides, floods and other environmental hazards.”

The petitioners alleged that the development is being enabled through collusion between some unnamed officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and private developers, who are allegedly attempting to distort the area’s original ecological design for personal gain.

“Our concern is that developers, aided by top officials of Lagos State Physical Planning, are bent on distorting the natural setting and peace of our environment—at the expense of existing properly situated properties and infrastructure,” they wrote.

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The residents further explained that previous attempts to build on the gorge had failed due to the area’s master plan classification.

They accused the current developer of attempting to give a false sense of legality by staging a demolition of an unapproved structure before proceeding with new construction—an act reportedly carried out under heavy security to discourage opposition from residents.

“This is obviously to intimidate residents from asking legitimate questions regarding the dangerous activities. The process has created a serious health hazard and is causing damage to surrounding properties,” the statement added.

The community also disclosed that a formal letter had been sent to the Ministry of Physical Planning and other relevant agencies on April 24, 2025, but no action was taken to halt the construction. Instead, they suspect that some officials may be complicit in allowing the project to continue despite public outcry.

The residents, in their petition to Governor Sanwo-Olu, made the following demands:

Immediate stop-work order on all construction activities within the gorge.

A directive for all relevant government agencies to revisit the original master plan for the location to validate the residents’ claims.

The petition reflects growing tension between residents and developers in Lagos over the exploitation of environmentally sensitive areas. As the state continues to urbanize, communities like Magodo Phase II are demanding stricter enforcement of planning regulations to protect both public safety and environmental integrity.