The government says the exercise is aimed at removing dangerous structures within power-line corridors and preventing further loss of lives.
The Lagos State Government has begun the controlled demolition of shanties and other informal structures built beneath high-tension electricity lines in Ikola, Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA.
The exercise, coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) with the police and Rapid Response Squad, follows a communal clash in the area that left four people dead.
LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the recent violence highlighted the safety risks posed by informal settlements located within the statutory right-of-way of high-voltage transmission lines.
He said the structures exposed residents to dangers including electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse and were contrary to safety standards.
According to LASEMA, residents were given prior notice and sufficient time to evacuate and retrieve their belongings before demolition commenced. Heavy-duty equipment has been deployed to clear structures within the power-line corridor.
The agency stressed that the exercise was not targeted at any ethnic group, but was aimed at removing structures considered dangerous to everyone living beneath the power lines.
The government said it would continue discussions with community leaders and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence and ensure compliance with planning regulations.
It appealed to residents to cooperate with the exercise, saying the goal was to create a safer environment and prevent further loss of lives.