Residents of 2, Adeniyi Lane, Lagos Island, have protested what they described as the “unlawful” demolition of their homes by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment.
On October 15, 2021 the officials, accompanied by policemen and thugs stormed the three storey-building and demolished it to the ground, destroying property worth millions of naira. The residents said they were not served any prior notice before the demolition.
Lamenting the situation, the aggrieved residents demanded that they should be duly compensated, especially because the property had allegedly been reallocated to someone else.
They made the demand in a protest letter titled: “Unlawful and premeditated demolition of the building belonging to the Lasisi Olowu family, and the planned re -allocation
of the said land to another person.”
The letter which was signed by one of the residents, Dayo Ajayi, said occupants of the property had operated legitimately at the premises in the last 15 years without any disturbances or disruptions from any governmental agency until that fateful day that they were dispossessed.
He said they always paid all their respective components of statutory charges, levies, taxes and rates.
A family member, Moshood Olowu, who spoke to The Nation, said the demolished building passed through all stages of building construction and was certified by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA.