- Residents say the Lagos demolition was sudden, with no chance to remove belongings.
- LASBCA insists the houses were distressed structures and claims due process was followed.
- A mother with newborn twins was forced out as the demolition continued.
- Residents accuse officials of intimidation, arguing that they were still processing approval documents before the Lagos demolition began.
It was a tense and heartbreaking morning on Basil Chibueze Close, Abule-Oshun in Lagos when officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency arrived without warning and began pulling down houses.
They came in three vehicles a little after 8:30a.m., moving straight to an uncompleted structure and bringing it down. Residents and passersby watched in shock, many confused about what was happening.
Witnesses said the officials originally approached a completed building but changed their target after the owner produced necessary documents. The officials then returned to the uncompleted building and continued the demolition.
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One of the buildings demolished was occupied by a woman who had given birth to twins only two months ago. She was forced to rush out with the infants while the workers continued their operation. According to residents, she was not allowed to take any of her belongings, and household items could still be seen dangling from the remaining structure.
By the time the dust settled, at least six structures had been reduced to rubble, two uncompleted and four occupied buildings, including a small sports field built for children in the community. Except for one house boldly marked “Military Zone — Keep Off,” every other building on the street was labeled for demolition.
A resident whose home had already been marked said LASBCA officials were not transparent about their process. He explained that the first markings were done in September, and residents were instructed to prepare their building approval documents. According to him, many were still in the process when the bulldozers returned.
When contacted, the spokesperson for LASBCA, Mr. Adu Ademuyiwa, insisted that most of the demolished structures had been served notices months earlier. He described the houses as distressed and unsafe.
Responding to allegations that officials demolished a building while a woman and her newborn twins were still inside, he denied it. He stated that the agency never demolishes buildings without ensuring occupants are out.
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He defended the demolition saying “No one waits for a building to collapse before taking action. Lagos prioritizes the safety of lives. This is the rainy season, weak structures can fall at any time.”
Ademuyiwa added that residents had been told earlier to conduct material strength testing on their buildings but allegedly ignored the directive.
