Alagbado residents demand compensation for demolished houses, shops

Some residents of Alagbado community have appealed to the Lagos State government to pay them compensation for their houses and shop which were demolished for road construction.

A member of Alagbado Community Development Authority (CDA), Mr Oluwatobi Kuye,  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that over 1,500 structures were affected.

He said: “Over 1,500 houses had been demolished, including shops on this axis, AIT Road, Alagbado.

“We appeal to the state government to help us with some amount of money so that we can make adjustment having lost our properties to the demolition exercise.

“The majority of landlords here are elderly people who depend on the rent from these shops and houses for a living.

A trader at Kola Bus Stop whose shop was demolished, Mr Nonso Okeke, told NAN that the exercise would affect his life.

Okeke said that he had just finished the payment of the shop in February with the agreement that the shop has become his personal property for life.

“I paid N2.5 million for outright purchase of the shop from my landlord in February; after two months of payment,  we received notice from the government that the place would be demolished for road construction.

“All we want now is to appeal to the state government for compensation because we have spent a lot of money in this place. Government should have given us long notice,’’ he said.

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Bisi Yusuf,  told NAN that the project was for the benefit of residents.

Yusuf, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, said he met some of the landlords before the demolition.

“This project is unavoidable. AIT Road, Alagbado is a vital route that links so many roads, so we have no alternative than to do the right thing.

“My appeal to the people is to consider some factors that can arise in the future before building their houses.

“I have personally met the landlords and told them the reason  we had to embark on the project. The road is long overdue for construction.

“They should bear it, there is no gain without pain. Very soon, we will all enjoy it together,’’ he said.

NAN reported that hundreds of shops and houses were demolished from Kola Bus Stop, AIT Road, Alagbado to Ilapo, Anjorin, Alaso up to Command area in Ipaja-Ayobo.