Despite assertions that they followed with formal restructuring procedures, residents of Oworonshoki in Kosofe Local Government Area have voiced shock and accused the Lagos State government of betrayal after their properties were demolished……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The impacted residents maintain that before the unexpected demolition exercise, they had started renovations and filed all required paperwork in compliance with state regulations. Many said they were caught off guard and wonder why the authorities carried out the operation.
In an interview with Channels TV, Mrs. Adeyeye Dosunmu, a resident whose property was destroyed, described the upsetting experience. She explained how the destruction happened early in the morning, leaving her homeless and inconsolable. “There is nowhere for me to go. My husband is buried there. He suggested that I bury him on his property after he passes away. Therefore, I have nowhere else to go,” Dosunmu remarked, highlighting her strong emotional and personal ties to the land. “They came at 12:00 a.m., wearing masks and accompanied by a full force of police,” she added, describing the operation as highly militarised and abrupt.
Many of us were not even permitted to remove anything,” she recalled. The government of Lagos State has justified the demolitions by arguing that the buildings were unsafe for the occupants and were of poor quality. According to officials, the drill was required to ensure public safety. However, locals contest this theory, speculating that the government might have acted for other reasons. “I have video evidence of all the buildings here,” one person said, contesting the safety claims. “None of them are inferior,” raising doubts about the validity of the state’s defence. With demands for more openness and equity in the application of such policies, the episode has generated intense discussion and brought to light persistent conflicts between Lagos authorities and communities impacted by urban restructuring projects……CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
