Lagos residents laud government’s demolition of illegal structures

FILE PHOTOS: Lagos State Govt Demolishing Illegal Structures.

Some residents of Jakande Estate Oke-Afa, Isolo, have lauded the Lagos State Government for demolishing illegal structures built within the blocks of flats in the estate, while others condemned it.

The illegal structures, in majority shops, are owned by some residents who had purchased flats within the estates.

The shops were marked for demolitions on Oct. 28 by officials of the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), the official owners of the landed properties within the state’s residential estates.

Some of the residents, who applauded the development that commenced on Wednesday, said the demolition would ensure that sanity returned to the estate as other believed the notice was short.

Mr Olufemi Adebowale, a former banker, said that the constitution guiding the purchase of flats within the estate did not allow individuals to own shops or any other structure within the estate.

“When I purchased my flat about 10 years ago, I read the constitution and there is nothing like owning a shop or any other building apart from the flat you bought.

“Some flats owners have even gone to the extent of building self-contained flats and let them out to other people to make money.

“These acts are mostly perpetrated by people that own the ground flats and we all know that this is not acceptable in a normal estate.

Adebowale, who attributed the development to corruption, said the regulatory body would have demolished immediately the structures were erected.

“Corruption has eaten so deep into our system that even the regulatory body, LBIC, is not competent in executing its mandates.

“According to information, they approved some of these structures without coming out to check what is being built,’’ he said.

Also, Mrs Titi Adefarati, a medical doctor, who applauded the development, told NAN that sanity would return to the estate.

“These shops that are majorly used for beer parlours have attracted a lot of miscreants into the estate.

“They have encouraged criminality of sorts within the estate. Estates are meant to be one of the safest places to live in and raise children.

“We have young boys that smoke all sorts of things and drink anywhere. We can’t even access the field which is meant for everyone to do exercise.

“One cannot walk freely within the estate for the fear of being robbed of one’s valuables,” she said.

Condemning the demolition, Miss Damilola Sofela, an unemployed graduate, said that the rate of unemployment in the country forced people to rent shops and start small scale businesses to feed.

“After graduation, I was unable to get a job, so, I opened this shop to help me to take care of some of my needs.

“The government has not done well at all, this is not the best time for this demolition, there is serious recession in the country and now this demolition, how do we survive?” Sofela said.

Mr. Adekunle Onaneye, a businessman, said that there were other matters that needed urgent attention within the estates and not the demolition of illegal structures.

“The estate has not been enjoying light like others. The roads are bad, no water, we virtually have nothing, indeed, no social amenities at all.

“The estate does not even have a police post, not to mention a divisional office for an estate as big as this.

“We are waiting for what the government wants to offer after this demolition,’’ he said.

Another unemployed graduate, who introduced himself as Bode, added that the demolition notice which was given to the residents was very short.

“People were not given the opportunity to even move their goods. A lot of property has been destroyed by this exercise,’’ he told NAN.

Mrs. Adunni Lawal, a shop owner, who said that she had lost her source of livelihood, condemned the three days warning given by the officials of LBIC, saying that it was inadequate.

“It’s not a good idea as many of us will lose our source of sustenance. The three-day ultimatum is too short, the demolition is not the best approach,” she said.

The President of Landlords Association, Mr. Toba Johnson, told NAN that they could not stop the government from demolishing the structures.

He said that the residents association had written to the government to give the shop owners more time but the effort was to no avail.

Johnson said that many shop owners had been denied of their major source of income.

The officials of LBIC who are carrying out the exercise decline comments.