On Tuesday, May 21 ,2019, some  landlords and residents in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State protested against the Federal Government’s plan to demolish more than 300 houses to pave the way for an interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

 

However, the protesters, who took to the street to express their grievances, denounced the demolition marking of more than 300 houses in the area. The leader of the protesters, identified as Kehinde Isijola, said community members had rejected the construction of the Lotto interchange area, adding that the government had never consulted them before marking their demolition.

Likewise, the surveyor said, “We just found out that the government is bringing about an interchange that will consume our community. We don’t want the interchange; in fact, some engineers and surveyors have started marking our houses for demolition without prior community engagement and negotiation. He added “As I speak to you, they have marked up to 300 houses, but the message we are passing to them is that they have to engage us in whatever they plan to do, especially when it concerns the community.”

Likewise, a businessman, Identified as  Alozie Mbalewe, while lamenting that he had invested his life savings in building his house and factory at Lotto, said both had been marked for demolition. Mbalewe said, “We know those who are behind the government and asking for the interchange to be located here. We are using this medium to communicate our displeasure on their attempt to remove us from here.

“We are angry and will stop at nothing to ensure that this project does not go on. I have invested more than N40m here. I have a house and a factory here and they have been marked for demolition. I will never allow them to destroy my property.”

Also,  a resident, Aderenle Pinnick, who said landlords and residents were responsible for bringing development to the community, charged the government to come to the rescue of the people who had been thrown into panic as a result of the proposed demolition.”Power, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola should come to our community, please, to see how many buildings his people have marked for demolition and tell us where he wants us to go. If there are no further motives and no religious organization motivates the project politically. A landlord, Francis Ehikhaese, said the interchange was brought to the community because it was rejected by other communities

The Federal Controller of Works for Lagos, Ademola Kuti, however, said the decision to mark the buildings for demolition was in overriding public interest, adding that the affected owners would be compensated in accordance with the law. Kuti stated, “I am aware that we are trying to do some construction around that place, but if we are doing that, there is always room for compensation. Those affected will be adequately compensated in accordance with the law.

“They (residents) are not to tell us where to use it; before choosing a location, we look at so many engineering factors and we’ve come up with the best engineering design. So, when the time comes, we will get everything done and if any of those houses has to go, it is in the overriding public interest.

“Nigerians on the road are more important than anyone else, so they should write to meet us instead of protesting, and we’ll tell them what we’re doing. Protesting will not solve any problem.”

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Source: Punch