As many Lagosians move from landlord to homelessness, the demolition of over 70 houses in Oworonshoki area of Lagos in September has continued to put residents in terrible pain.
The touching story of Oworonshoki’s residents also indicates their push for compensation, which till date has not yielded much result. Some say the demolition was ordered by the Kabiyesi in the area. It was also gathered that the demolition was because most of the buildings were not in their proper shape.
But weeks after many landlords were rendered homeless, residents’ pain from the devastating demolition by the government has grown more intense with many claiming they have been sleeping outside since the demolition happened and have nowhere to go.
While landlords and residents groan under the pain of losing their valuables – the demolition also offers another window of opportunity for some persons seen buying scraps from the wreckage – like the popular saying “one man’s loss is another man’s gain.”
When BusinessDaySunday visited the community Thursday, many of the residents were seen picking whatever is left of their belongings. While some property owners were seen selling damaged sinks, some were selling the remains of the wood from their damaged roofing sheets, just as some young men were busy buying the iron rod of the demolished buildings.
However, amidst the total destruction of the houses in the Toluwalase, Ojulari, Ososa extension – a two-storey building stands alone as a lone ranger.
The said building is at no. 14, Toluwalase Street with plan number boldly written on the fence. The inscription on the building reads: plan approval no. DCB/500/KS/DO of 22/5/2004. Lagos State Government Allocation No. U/RAT/Y2/394/OWORONSHOKI/58 dated 30/10/2002.
However, the building beside no. 14, Toluwalase Street carries the court order stopping any demolition in the area boldly written on its fence like that of No. 14 – but the building was demolished leaving the fence as the ‘living’ witness to the stop order of the state high court.
“Now they have disobeyed a court order because there was an injunction that there will be no demolition in these areas Toluwalase, Ojulari, Ososa extension. But they came in the night to demolish the houses in this place,” said one of the residents who identified himself as Mayowa.
According to him, many of the residents have been sleeping outside since the demolition was carried out by the government. “We are all sleeping outside now,” he said.
Corroborating Mayowa’s position, another resident of the area identified as Mama Peace told BusinessDaySunday that no prior warning was given by the government.
Rather, the residents were all assured by the traditional ruler who told the landlords that the government wanted them to renovate their houses.
“See this man, he went to buy zinc of ₦2 million; started renovating in order for his house not to be affected,” she said pointing to the rubble in front of her.
Read also: Demolitions: When rule of law goes awry
According to Mama Peace, weeks after many land owners renovated their property in line with the traditional ruler’s instruction – the houses were demolished.
She also disclosed that many of the landlords increased their rent just to carry out renovation works on their houses; yet the houses were demolished.
“But why is it that after doing everything, the landlords increased our rent from 400 to 800 so that they can work on their buildings. But after that the government still went ahead to demolish,” Mama Peace said.
She also suggested that there could be a deliberate attempt to misinform the people about the demolition from the onset.
This is so because no notice was given about the demolition, and that when some buildings within the community were marked – the government officials who came to mark the buildings told them not all the houses would be affected.
“They were telling us, especially this building because it has a C-of-O, that this house, this building is not among them. They were supposed to compensate the owner of this house,” Mama Peace said.
She also disclosed that the security operatives did not allow the residents to carry their belongings. “They did not allow anybody to carry anything because they came with tear gas.”
Mayowa’s testimony also supported that of Mama Peace even though they spoke to BusinessDaySunday separately.
“They did not discuss compensation with us, rather they told us that they want to demolish houses in this area; and we have gone to court. ….is it night that the Lagos State government demolishes houses now?” he asked.
Mayowa also berated the government actions and misleading information about the status of the houses within the community.
He added that compensating people after violating a court order cannot cut it at the moment because the damage has been done and that a lot of money has been wasted within the community over the years.
“It’s not that they will just come here and start giving us money; we will not collect it from them.
“We don’t have a government. All of us know that we don’t have any government because they are just doing what they like because the law is not affecting them – it’s affecting us the masses. They are the ones ruling and they can do anything that they feel like,” said Mayowa.
According to him, government’s action and inaction depict that of militarized society where people are not allowed to speak or act freely. “They are showing us that we are nobody, but we know that we have God. They are just using political power to marginalize us and we don’t have anyone to fight for us,” he said.
Call for compensation
Another resident of Toluwalase Street who spoke with BusinessDay on condition of anonymity said that the government has failed to act where it matters the most.
“There is little to nothing the government can do now because we know they have decided to override us. However, the government must ensure we do not suffer in vain because we have been sleeping outside since the demolition was carried out,” he said.
He also told BusinessDay that with the hike in rent across Lagos, it would be hard for any of the affected residents to move out with any government intervention.
“Getting accommodation now is not easy – rent is very expensive now. Each one of us here are landlords, yet we no longer have a house to call our own or live in – since Saturday that this place was demolished, we have been sleeping on this bench.
“Rain is about to fall again, yet we don’t know where to hide. This umbrella has been shielding us and we all will be under this umbrella should it rain any moment. So, the government should come out clean on whatever help they want to render to us,” he said.
He also alleged that the government might not be directly involved in the demolition, suggesting that some persons might be hiding under the shadow of the government to effect the demolition.
“What our Oba Saliu Babatunde told us was that some houses will be demolished and that compensation will be paid to affected landlords. And that some landlords will be given room and parlour apartments to compensate for their loss.
“But now they said we will be compensated but we have not been given anything. The government said some people have been compensated, but we have not seen anybody that has been compensated. However, we also heard that some family members of the Oba were the ones that received compensation,” he said.
Relative peace reign amid fear of protest
Following the call for protest by some concerned citizens and civil society organisation (CSOs) over the demolished houses in Oworonshoki, the Lagos State Police Command through the Commissioner of Police embarked on a confidence building patrol on Third Mainland Bridge.
The patrol according to the Police, was to nip in the bud any attempts to cause disruption and public disorder within the Oworonshoki axis of the state over demolition, which civil rights organisations have termed ‘unnecessary show of force’ by the police.
Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, commissioner of Police in Lagos State Command, issued a stern warning indicating that officers and men of the command will provide strong resistance to actual or attempted disruptive tendencies around the Oworonshoki area inward Berger.
Jimoh, who personally patrolled the entire stretch of the 11.8km-long Third Mainland Bridge, gave the directive to warn Lagosians against any act that may go contrary to the law of the state.
However, one week after the demolition, BusinessDay can report that the area has been relatively peaceful with residents trying to pick up whatever was left of their belongings and livelihood.
Even at that, the state Police Command is still not letting anything to chance as six of its patrol vans and one Armoured tank was stationed at the Oworo bus stop inward Berger; blocking one of the lanes from vehicular movement.
