Residents of the Ikorodu High School bus stop area in Odongiyan, along Sagamu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, have raised safety concerns over the construction of a gas station directly beneath high-tension electricity cables.
Community leaders and residents warned that the facility could endanger lives and property, urging relevant government agencies to take immediate action to prevent a possible disaster.
The community head, Tajudeen Ojo, said officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) had visited the site last Thursday and instructed the operator to move the facility away from the high-tension wires.
According to him, the owner agreed to comply with the directive and was also asked to visit the agency’s office for proper documentation.
Ojo explained that residents initially did not object to the construction because they believed the property would continue to serve as a shop for cement or iron rods, as it had previously been used for building materials.
He said the community only became aware of the actual purpose of the structure when a gas tanker was brought to the premises, prompting residents to raise concerns.
Another resident, Kazeem Olasupo, alleged that he and a community leader were assaulted after he attempted to alert the management of a nearby school about the potential dangers of the project.
Olasupo said he had visited the school to inform the principal about the development and encouraged two staff members to attend a meeting with the Lagos State Safety Commission.
He alleged that after the meeting, one of the staff members questioned his opposition to the project and informed the land allocator about where his vehicle was parked.
According to him, he was attacked by a couple when he returned to retrieve his car. He added that the chief Imam of a nearby estate, who attempted to intervene, was also beaten.
Olasupo further claimed that the gas station operator could not provide the regulatory documents requested by LASEPA officials during their inspection.
He said the agency subsequently ordered the suspension of work and invited those involved to its headquarters for further discussions.
However, he expressed concern that moving the facility backwards would not completely eliminate the danger posed by its location beneath the electricity cables.
Another resident, Bolarinwa Ojo, also questioned whether the proposed relocation by a few centimetres would sufficiently address the community’s safety concerns.
He maintained that residents were unaware that the property was being converted into a gas station until construction had progressed significantly.
Meanwhile, the Ikorodu Coordinator of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Oludare Abolurin, said the organisation was monitoring the situation over concerns about regulatory compliance, environmental safety and the protection of residents.
Abolurin disclosed that a LASEPA inspection team led by an official identified as Engineer Sawyer visited the facility on November 5, with him and the community head also present.
He said the inspection team reportedly discovered that the operators could not produce the required regulatory documents, raising further questions about the project’s compliance with safety requirements.
The human rights organisation also expressed concern over alleged threats and intimidation against residents and activists opposing the project.
Abolurin disclosed that the woman associated with the project and her husband had been invited to appear at LASEPA’s headquarters in Alausa on Monday, November 9, for further engagement.
He said the organisation would continue monitoring the matter and engaging relevant authorities to ensure accountability and protect the interests of the community.
As of Monday, the stop-work order issued by LASEPA remained in force at the project site.
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