From Comfort to Ruin: Tragedy Strikes as Lagos Homes Face Sudden Demolition
Sitting forlornly on a wooden bench outside his now-demolished house, Mr Peter Lawrence stared at the remnants of his once-comfortable home, now reduced to twisted metal, disjointed slabs, and shattered furniture.
The King’s Royal Estate in the Abule Ado area of Lagos State witnessed the abrupt destruction of numerous houses by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), leaving homeowners like Lawrence in a state of shock and sorrow.
The pride, joy, and sense of security that come with owning a home in Festac Phase 2 turned to dejection and despair as palatial houses faced demolition for alleged violations of housing and development regulations.
Several properties in various estates within the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area fell victim to this government action.
During a visit to the affected area, our correspondents observed the swampy, untarred landscape, where demolished buildings coexisted with untouched structures.
Many displaced homeowners, having sought refuge with relatives, safeguarded their belongings with trusted friends and neighbors to protect them from both the elements and potential theft.
In an unfortunate twist, it was revealed that numerous victims were traders at the bustling Trade Fair market, located in Satellite Town near the affected region.
However, residents were reluctant to share their experiences, citing the absence of landlords as a reason for their reticence.
The demolition, which reportedly began earlier in the week, left behind an atmosphere of shame and wasted investments.
While duplexes and other structures faced total destruction, some houses had only their fences and security buildings brought down, creating a disheartening scene.
Manual laborers diligently worked on the remaining pillars and concrete, further dismantling the structures.
Cart and wheelbarrow pushers converged on the demolition sites, transporting salvageable items like roofing sheets, bent iron, and metal scraps to undisclosed destinations for potential sale or recycling.
Eviction and demolition notices, sprayed in red ink by FHA, adorned many buildings in the area.
Despite these markings dating back to August and September, several houses marked for demolition still had residents living in them.
Some of the marked structures included not only residential homes but also pharmaceutical stores and hotels.
One resident, Eberenna, revealed that some homeowners had pleaded with the agency to spare their houses, offering substantial sums of money, such as N50 million, to prevent the demolitions.
However, these pleas were reportedly disregarded, with the agency citing prior warnings and instructions from the Federal Housing Authorities regarding proper allocation numbers and adherence to regulations.
Samuel, a landlord in Ado Royal Estate, shared that he paid an undisclosed sum to spare his building from demolition.
He explained that rectification fees were required to validate property ownership, and as long as the property adhered to guidelines, it could avoid demolition.
Other residents echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for rectification to prevent their homes from becoming victims of the ongoing demolitions.
Despite these explanations, the affected homeowners expressed feelings of deep despair, loss, and frustration.
Heartbreaking stories emerged of individuals who had invested years of hard work and savings, only to see their dreams crumble before their eyes.
Source: PUNCH
