The Lagos State Government has demolished a car lot operated by Skyewise Group along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, clarifying that the property, contrary to viral social media claims, does not belong to popular auto influencer, Waris Akinwande, known as Ola of Lagos.
A video showing heavy-duty machines pulling down luxury car display structures along the Lekki corridor went viral over the weekend, sparking outrage and widespread speculation that the demolished lot belonged to the influencer.
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However, Skyewise Group, in a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Elvis Abuyere, said the affected facility was wholly owned by the company, though a section had been leased to Ola of Lagos for car display and content creation.
Mr Abuyere described the demolition as “unfortunate and saddening,” explaining that it formed part of the state government’s wider efforts to open up access for a new waterway development project in the area.
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“This unfortunate incident affected several car lots along the Lekki Expressway, starting from Phase 1, where the Skyewise Group office was located,” he said.
The CEO said only a section of the premises had been leased to Ola of Lagos for car hire operations and the display of vehicles used for content creation.
“All necessary building approvals, operational permits, dealership licences, and environmental levies for the property were duly obtained from the Lagos State Government,” he stated, adding that the company would release copies of the relevant documents soon.
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Mr Abuyere said Skyewise had already begun plans to rebuild and establish a new facility in Lagos, thanking Nigerians for their support and expressing confidence that the company would “emerge stronger and better.”
What the permit shows
A separate document shared online and reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES shows that Skyewise’s approval to use the space was provisional and came with strict conditions.
A letter dated 14 November 2022, issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, granted Skyewise Group a Provisional Permit for Allied Trade (Car Lot) to operate under the power line corridor on Akiogun Road, beside Bannex Mall, Lekki Phase 1.
The terms of the permit stated that the land could be used only as an automobile workshop or allied trade and no structure made of bricks was allowed.
Also, safety nets must be installed beneath the high-voltage power lines; the space was non-transferable and not to be sublet; and the government reserved the right to revoke the approval with one month’s notice in the public interest.
An X user, @FolushoxFolarin, who shared copies of the approval on Tuesday, alleged that Skyewise violated several of these conditions by erecting brick structures, failing to install safety nets, and subletting part of the space to Ola of Lagos.
The user added that the demolition was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law which prohibits structures under high-voltage power lines.
He claimed that affected auto dealers were given advance notice and removed their valuables before the demolition began.
“The pertinent question is how to stop these structures from being built in the first place,” the user wrote.
Ola of Lagos reacts
Following the demolition, Ola of Lagos confirmed the loss of his showroom in a post on Instagram but maintained a positive tone.
“New showroom coming soon… Bigger and better, Insha Allah. We’re still active! We existed long before our physical showroom, and we’ll continue to thrive,” he wrote.
He also thanked his supporters for their concern, saying he had endured several losses in the past and would continue to “thank God and move forward.”
Lagos govt speaks on demolition
The Lagos State Government has ordered automobile dealers and estate developers along the Lekki–Epe Expressway corridor to vacate wetlands and other restricted areas following what it described as widespread environmental violations.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the directive on Saturday after a joint inspection of the corridor with the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and other senior officials.
The enforcement drive is tied to the planned Lagos Green Line Rail Project, one of six lines in the state’s long-term Strategic Transport Master Plan aimed at easing congestion and connecting emerging urban districts.
The Green Line, which will run from Marina through Lekki to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, is expected to integrate with the state’s Blue and Red Line networks to improve mobility and reduce carbon emissions.
Mr Wahab said the inspection, which also included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, and Permanent Secretaries Gaji Tajudeen and Mahmoud Adegbite, was aimed at aligning both ministries’ efforts in protecting the environment and preserving the right of way for the project.
According to him, findings from the exercise revealed that several car dealers who were granted temporary approvals to operate on designated sites had encroached beyond their permitted areas, reclaiming wetlands and even building under high-tension power lines.
“Wetlands are not wasteland. They are nature’s sponge, designed to hold excess water during heavy rains,” Mr Wahab said in a post on his X handle. “Our recent drone survey exposed the shocking scale of destruction to these ecosystems, particularly the coconut plantations along the corridor, which have been severely degraded. This will not stand.”
He said the government, working with the Ministry of Transportation, had commenced immediate enforcement to clear the illegal developments, insisting that no private business interests would be allowed to threaten public safety or disrupt the state’s urban master plan.
“The Green Line is a legacy project that will commence soon, and we will not allow the selfish interests of a few to compromise the mobility and environmental safety of millions of Lagosians,” he added.
Mr Wahab also disclosed that the government had taken a zero-tolerance stance against the illegal reclamation and narrowing of the Ikota River by Partibons Homes Estate and Bee-Forth Estate Phase 2, saying he had issued a seal and stop-work order.
His statement follows a series of recent enforcement actions by the Ministry of Environment. In late September, Premium Times reported that the state government demolished several duplexes and structures built along the Ikota River in Eti-Osa Local Government Area for obstructing natural drainage and worsening flood risks.
The commissioner’s remarks also align with the government’s broader campaign against unapproved real estate developments.
Earlier in the year, Premium Times reported that the state listed 176 illegal housing estates across Lagos and gave their promoters a deadline to obtain proper approvals.
READ ALSO: Lagos receives 18,273 foreign tourists in 2024 – Official
Mr Wahab condemned what he described as “a deliberate destruction of a critical river ecosystem for illicit real estate ventures,” warning that such actions worsen flooding in surrounding communities.
He urged prospective property buyers to conduct due diligence and verify all land documents before purchasing from developers operating in those areas.
“This administration will not fold its hands while nature’s design is distorted,” Mr Wahab said, noting that 17 illegal structures had already been demolished at the Ikota River in Oral Estate Extension as part of ongoing enforcement.
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