Abeokuta, Ogun – The Ogun State Government has announced plans to remove all unauthorised structures encroaching on road setbacks along major highways and roads across the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta over the weekend, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Olatunji Odunlami, said the government is alarmed by the widespread illegal occupation of setbacks by shanties, containers, makeshift shops, markets, car lots, truck parks, and unapproved signage.

These encroachments, he said, pose serious safety risks, block visibility for motorists, disrupt drainage, cause flooding, degrade the environment, and distort urban aesthetics.

“The government will no longer tolerate the use of setbacks except for infrastructure, transportation, traffic control, and maintenance purposes,” Odunlami declared.

Affected highways include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abeokuta-Sagamu Interchange (Muhammadu Buhari Expressway), Sagamu-Benin Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Highway, and several others, as well as major roads within cities and towns.

Property owners have been directed to immediately remove all illegal structures within their setback spaces and are encouraged to seek assistance from the ministry. Owners are also urged to beautify and landscape the cleared setbacks.

In a related development, Governor Dapo Abiodun has approved a three-month amnesty programme offering 50% reduction on planning permit penal fees for developers who built without approval.

The window runs until 31 January 2026 and covers residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and mixed-use developments.

The government says the twin measures are aimed at restoring order, safety, and beauty to Ogun State’s road corridors.