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We’re bringing order to Lagos Informal Urban Spaces — LASISMA GM, Oludaisi Oso
We’re bringing order to Lagos Informal Urban Spaces — LASISMA GM, Oludaisi Oso
Mr. Oludaisi Oso is the General Manager of the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority (LASISMA). In this interview with DADA JACKSON, he speaks on the Authority’s mandate, funding, challenges, and efforts to restore sanity to informal urban spaces across the state.
Can you tell us more about LASISMA, as many Lagosians seem unaware of its activities?
Thank you for this important question. LASISMA was conceptualised in 2001 by our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he was Governor of Lagos State. He came up with the idea of creating an agency to manage informal urban spaces in an orderly and sustainable manner.
However, the Authority was relatively inactive for years until Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu revived it. When I was appointed as the General Manager by His Excellency, Governor Sanwo-Olu, LASISMA was operating at about five per cent of its potential.
Our mandate is derived from the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law of 2015 (as amended) — particularly Sections 2(e) and 2(n). The law empowers us to regulate the location, position, dimension, appearance, and manner of display of urban furniture within the state.
We also provide technical assistance to all government MDAs on matters relating to the planning, designation, and use of informal urban spaces. Part of our role is to designate such spaces as centres for socio-economic activities that align with the state’s approved land-use plans.
Other responsibilities include creating and managing a database of informal urban spaces and open areas, formulating policies for their use, and standardising the deployment and supervision of urban furniture.
Governor Sanwo-Olu is very passionate about restoring order to informal urban spaces across the state. The rejuvenated LASISMA signifies that a new sheriff is in town — it’s no longer business as usual. We are determined to reclaim and regulate our informal urban spaces. About 80 per cent of these spaces have been taken over by illegal users, and that must stop.
How is the Authority funded?
Our primary source of funding is through budgetary allocations from the state government. However, like Oliver Twist, we always ask for more because our mandate requires substantial resources to execute effectively.
We also generate some internal revenue. For example, our current office space was acquired under a revenue-sharing arrangement with the property owners. Because of its strategic location and their experience in revenue collection, the owners assist in driving revenue. Under our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), they remit a percentage to the state government, while part of it offsets our rent.
What are the major challenges facing LASISMA?
One of our biggest challenges is the widespread abuse of urban setbacks — what we refer to as informal urban spaces. People convert these spaces into trading points, workshops, or even residential extensions, often without consideration for safety or planning laws.
You may recall the unfortunate incident at Ladipo, where a woman was frying yam and bean cake close to a man selling gas. A spark led to an explosion that caused loss of lives and property. Another similar incident occurred at Abule Ado near Festac Town. These are direct consequences of unregulated use of informal urban spaces.
Such occurrences prompted Mr. Governor’s renewed commitment to curb the abuse of these spaces. The examples are too many to mention, but they all point to one thing — the urgent need for regulation and compliance.
What is the way forward?
The message is simple: no one should conduct business on any urban setback or informal space without clearance from LASISMA. Business operators should apply for a licence; it takes no more than 10 working days to obtain one.
Getting licensed not only keeps you within the law but also ensures you are properly guided on suitable areas for your business activities. Governor Sanwo-Olu is determined to ensure that informal urban spaces in Lagos are properly regulated.
Henceforth, no individual or group is permitted to occupy or use any informal urban space in Lagos State without a valid licence from LASISMA.
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MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of Pa Biliaminu Taiwo in Fiditi, Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, in November 2019.
The organisation also called for appropriate legal action against Ojo Akinlabi, following his reported arrest in connection with the killing.
In a press release dated October 23, 2026, MURIC said the petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police on October 22 and acknowledged by the commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to the organisation, Pa Taiwo was allegedly hacked to death inside a mosque in Fiditi in November 2019.

MURIC urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case and ensure that anyone found culpable was prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The group also called on the authorities to ensure that the case was handled in a manner that would prevent justice from being frustrated.
“Murder is not a bailable offence,” the organisation said, urging the police to ensure that the suspect was brought before a court of competent jurisdiction and that any decision concerning his custody or release complied with the law.
MURIC further alleged that Akinlabi had a history of violent attacks, including incidents involving the use of knives allegedly coated with poison. However, the organisation did not provide supporting details of the alleged incidents in the statement.
The group described the allegations as a matter of concern and called for appropriate action by the relevant authorities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law, MURIC said allegations of criminal conduct should receive the attention of law enforcement agencies and be subjected to due process.
The statement was signed by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary of MURIC in Oyo State.
The organisation concluded its appeal with the declaration: “Justice delayed must not become justice denied.”
As of the time of the statement, MURIC had not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest or the current status of the police investigation. The allegations against Akinlabi have not been independently verified, and any determination of criminal responsibility remains a matter for the courts.
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
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Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man accused of impersonating a permanent secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after he was allegedly caught using a forged number plate bearing the inscription “PRESIDENCY”.
The suspect was arrested on October 20, 2026, after police operatives intercepted a Lexus LX570 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Maitama District, Abuja, at about 8pm.
According to the police, the concealed number plate carried the registration number 10B218 FG.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the documents presented to support the registration were allegedly forged.
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Adeh said the suspect had claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations that reportedly uncovered the alleged fraud and impersonation.
“The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the police said.
The command added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.
The police urged residents to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security operatives and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The arrest comes amid concerns over the unauthorised use of official government and diplomatic number plates in the FCT. Police authorities have previously raised concerns that such plates could be used by unauthorised individuals to evade scrutiny or facilitate criminal activities.
The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegations remain subject to the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
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Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Accra, Ghana — A routine breakup escalated into a catastrophic act of arson this week, leaving a young man homeless and his former girlfriend in police custody. The Ghana Police Service has arrested a young woman accused of deliberately setting her boyfriend’s rented apartment on fire after he ended their relationship. The shocking trigger for the split? The woman had answered a phone call on his mobile device without his permission.
According to preliminary police investigations, the couple became embroiled in a volatile and heated argument over the breach of privacy. The confrontation spiraled rapidly out of control when the boyfriend, reportedly furious that she had answered his phone, decided to end the relationship on the spot. Rather than accepting the breakup, the woman’s anger reportedly boiled over into a dangerous and premeditated rage.
In the aftermath of the breakup, authorities allege that the woman intentionally ignited a fire inside the man’s rented home in an act of vengeance. Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer chaos as flames rapidly consumed the residence, forcing neighbors to flee and local fire services to be summoned to battle the inferno. Dramatic images from the scene reveal a landscape of utter devastation, with the apartment reduced to a pile of charred debris and twisted metal. While no casualties have been reported, the property damage is extensive, and the young man has effectively lost his home and belongings.
The Ghana Police Service acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending the young woman who is now in police custody facing potential charges of arson and destruction of property. Local neighbors have expressed profound shock at the severity of the attack, with one bewildered resident telling reporters, “It is just a phone call. To burn down a whole apartment because you were broken up with? It is a very sad day for us here.” The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as the police finalize their case, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked anger.
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
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