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Lagos to Demolish Petrol Stations Built on Residential Plots

Clara Nwachukwu

The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to demolish filling stations built on residential plots in the state. Besides, owners of the plots face the risk of losing their Certificates of Occupancy.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr. Francis Abosede, disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting of the Department of Petroleum Resources and major oil marketers in Lagos.

He said, "It has come to the notice of the state that most people who apply for approval for petrol stations have C of O for residential plots and want to change it to commercial purpose. Lagos State Government will no longer give such approvals." According to him, the state has identified 105 of errant stations in Lekki area alone.

Abosede said that the owners had been directed to demolish the stations and revert to their original status. He added that the state would no longer approve applications for change of use after a C of O had been issued on a plot. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to desist from buying residential plots with the hope of converting them to commercial purposes.

He blamed such practices for congestion and environmental degradation of the state.

"We advise marketers who want to build filling stations to get a C of O that says it is for petrol station. We are ready to give them preliminary approval within 30 days, but those seeking for change in use might have to wait for eternity," he said.

He said that the state was conducting a survey of plots both in the planned and unplanned areas.

"We have told them to revert (the errant plots for their original purpose). Failure to do so, we will sell the house, refund their money and revoke the C of O. We are conducting a survey of plots, including those planned and unplanned. We have concluded Lekki and we are currently doing Akowonjo and Ikeja," Abosede said.

He said the measure was aimed at bringing sanity to the city's town planning, in line with the scheme to turn Lagos into a mega city.

Filling stations in between residential houses have become a common feature in Lagos, with attendant security issues.

Abosede said the state had come up with new Regulations on Petrol/Gas Filling Stations to address the situation.

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