Experts condemn forced demolition

HOUSING experts have condemned what they termed”forced” building demolitions across the country.

The situation, they described as “deeply worrisome”, pointing out that the existing housing stock is being depleted through building demolitions despite housing deficit of over 22 million units.

They expressed concerns that the exercise, if not checked, will not only increase homelessness among Nigerians, but promote insecurity and reduce investors’ confidence in the Nigerian real estate sector.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Gestpoint Nigeria Limited, Dr. Toba Akinrinade, said the waves of building demolitions in Nigeria are already affecting real estate sales and investment negatively.

According to him, most people in the diaspora who want to invest in Nigerian real estate sector are not forthcoming due to the news of building demolitions.

Unlike last year that sales increased, he said that most of his colleagues are yet to see a repeat, citing effects of building demolitions and economic hardship.

Condemning the recent waves of building demolitions, Professor Timothy Nubi, who doubles as the Director of the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos, pointed out that housing remains the solution to terrorism and banditry.

“Only those who live in glass houses would refrain from throwing stones. Anyone living under a bridge would resort to bombs,” he said.

According to him, the recent waves of demolitions across the country have left many homeless, adding that the ugly incident is happening at the same time the nation is grappling with a surge in violent crime.

“A homeless, disgruntled person is a ready recruit for terrorists,” he warned, calling on members of Housing Development Advocacy Network to rise to the occasion and speak against it.

“We, as members of this platform, must stand against these demolitions. They represent an unintelligent, wicked, and lazy approach to urban renewal—an act antithetical to genuine urban regeneration and a cruelty to humanity.

“Those who carry out such actions are effectively anti‑government, aligning themselves against President Tinubu’s administration. They must stop now,” he said.

Another professional, who identified himself simply as “Ed” on the HDAN platform, said: ”The greed that has pushed many into the state of despair is still on the rampage in the guise of clearing slums and shanties which are in turn allocated to the elites.

“If only the actors are constantly reminded that the constant fear of the poor to sleep at night shall surely keep the rich awake.”

Another professional, Ezekiel Ojo, said that in human society, “you don’t just demolish without a provision to relocate to another place which may not be of the same standard.”

No matter the level of illegality, you don’t just make people homeless overnight,” he said.

He explained that in one of his projects,  he built somewhere else to relocate illegal occupants before he could demolish for redevelopment, “though they placed them on mortgage to pay for the buildings”.

Another expert, Femi Oyedele, said: “Two wrongs can never make a right. There is no country where evacuation of residents by demolishing their houses is the solution to encroachment.

Urban renewal would suffice in a community with human rights. Water will always find its level. The displaced Oworonshoki dwellers will definitely go to another “cheap area”, convenient for their trades, either in Ikorodu or Epe or anywhere near water body to settle down.”

Condemning the forced building demolitions, Executive Director, Housing Development Advocacy Network, Festus Adebayo, said, “The goal posts for affordable housing have been shifted.”

“Affordability has now become the biggest threat for those who really need the houses.”

READ ALSO: Victims of Apapa demolitions serve pre-action notice, demand justice, compensation