Residents of Ifelodun off Aina Ajobo, Yaya Abatan, Ogba, have been rendered homeless following the demolitions of their houses by officials of the Lagos State Government.
The demolition was carried out on 21st and 22nd of April 2020, leaving some of the residents stranded with no where to stay, despite the stay at home directives as part of the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.
When BONews visited the community, residents were found helplessly looking for how to sort their property among debris and disclosed that they received the notice to relocate on Friday, April 17th without an alternative.
Williams Amos whose house was demolished explained that officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources issued a 24 hour notice last Friday because their building is located close to the canal and would obstruct building the planned drainage.
Amos however noted that the distance between the canal and their house was too far to warrant being demolished.
“As you can see, our house is far from the canal, so how would they have demolished it.
Another resident of Ifelodun whose house was demolished the previous day lamented about the inhumane attitudes of those who carried out the exercise.
He said, “me and my wife and children had to spend the night outside and you know there was heavy rain last night, we had to stay in that rain because there was no other place to go, our properties are drenched and most of them have been destroyed by the rain.”
On her part, a lady who identified herself simply as Rose who narrated the incident said most of them were still sleeping when the demolition was carried out in the early hours of the day.
“We had to wake others so that the buildings do not fall on them and we pleaded with them not to demolish our property but they didn’t accept.
“See us, see these children, where will we go to? If we were just adults, maybe we would have sorted ourselves but our children are involved, how do we cope together”
“What makes this worse is that we’re supposed to be observing stay at home order because of Corona but where is the house that we will stay, this is heartless and wicked.”
Reacting to the incident, Betty Abah, Founder, CEE-HOPE Nigeria called on the Lagos State Governor, “Babajide Sanwo-Olu to please halt this wicked action. It is not only inhuman but disgraceful in the sight of a world cowering from the impacts of a global pandemic.
“This action leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of any decent human that the state with the highest (and rapidly growing rate of #COVID19, about 70% or more of the national figure) in a country would prioritize the demolition of the houses of poor residents over attending to the screaming needs of the struggling masses, most of whom are languishing in lockdown-induced hunger.”
Deji Akinpelu, Founder, Rethinking Cities wants the governor to issue a moratorium ordering a stop of all forced eviction during this period.
“After COVID-19, we need to look at how we can provide affordable housing for people instead of demolishing their houses and in places where there are illegal structures, adequate notice should be given before evacuation.
“Those whose houses have been demolished should be traced and provided temporary accommodation and the governor should fulfill his campaign promises about not demolishing informal settlements but to redevelop them.
Later this evening, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on New Media, Gawat Jubril announced the suspension of the demolitions from Yaya-Abatan to Obawole.
Despite the suspension order, many esidents whose houses have not been demolished are living in fear as they could be the next victim.