DAYO AYEYEMI writes that developers, homeowners and tenants can no longer sleep comfortably following the ongoing demolition of buildings in Lagos State.
The fear of the bulldozers from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State has suddenly become the beginning of wisdom to many residents, no thanks to the series of demolition of houses across the metropolis.
It is so tense that developers, homeowners and tenants can no longer sleep with eyes closed.
It is either demolition of buildings on the rights-of-way of drainage channels or at the site of the ongoing construction of the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Road.
While the victims of the latter are being compensated, same cannot be said of the former.
Interestingly, many residents who say they have lost their sleep over the demolitions, do not know who will be the next victim.
Squatters under the bridges and open spaces in the ‘city of aquatic splendour’ are not spared as many of them have lost their temporary ‘accommodation’ to the ongoing exercise.
From Ajah to Lekki, Ikoyi, Mende-Maryland, Okota, Oshodi, Iyana-Oworo, Ikorodu, Dolphin, Ijora, Obalende, under various bridges, among others, the demolition has rendered many residents and squatters homeless.
The current wave of demolitions dates back to October 12, 2023, when the Lagos State Government demolished over 25 completed terraced buildings and other structures along the Ikota drainage channel in Lekki Ajah area, leaving scores of families homeless.
In May 2024, some structures were demolished in Mende, Maryland, Lagos even as the dust of the Dolphin Underbridge demolition, where more than 200 squatters were ejected, was yet to settle.
Also, no fewer than 100 shanties providing shelter to several people at Adeniji Adele Underbridge were demolished this month.
These demolition exercises seem to have put the government bad light in the eyes of the public.
Up till now, the government is yet to come out with the number of houses demolished in the last one year.
Affected residents
Decrying the demolition of their estate, residents of Mende Estate Villa in the Maryland area of Lagos State said the recent demolition of their multi-million-naira houses by the Lagos State Government was uncalled for and are seeking compensation for a new shelter.
The affected residents, who had to hastily pack their possessions to leave, bemoaned how terrible it was to exit their houses without knowing where next to sleep.
The developer of the estate, Mr Jide Durojaiye, said he took time to explain to the commissioner about the approval permits secured by him from the state government to build the estate few years ago, but said his argument did not change anything.
Instead, the commissioner urged the developer to take his case to the Appeal Committee set up by the state government, pledging he would get justice.
Another resident, simply identified as Tega, claimed that the residents’ biggest nightmare came true when the government gave them two hours to leave their houses.
She said that no prior notification was given by the government.
“They gave us two hours to exit the estate. Most people have moved out since then, and we are just trying to get the pieces today,” she said.
One of the evictees of Dolphin Underbridge, who identified himself simply as “Peter,” said what happened to them was not funny.
Peter, a carpenter from Benue State, said he had been an occupant of the under-the-bridge accommodation for more than five years.
On why he preferred to live under the bridge instead of real accommodation, he said: “When I came over five years ago, a friend introduced me to a retired policeman in charge of this place. The man asked me to pay N250,000, which I paid over some periods. He then allocated a portion of land under the bridge for me to build which I did.
“My rent in this place is N250,000 yearly. Now the man is nowhere to be found,” he said.
He disclosed that more than 200 people, who were residents of that area, have been evicted by the Lagos State Government, while their makeshift houses were destroyed.
He said that he had to sleep in another makeshift abode somewhere close by the previous night, only for the enforcement team from the state authority to return to completely destroy what was left of his abode.
“As it is now, I don’t have anywhere to go. It’s not funny. Government should just come and help us,” he said
Another evictee, who did not want his name in print, said that the communal living that existed under the bridge, living was exciting.
He said that most residents were artisans, drivers and traders, rendering service to neighbours in Dolphin Estate.
“We used to be our neighbours’ keepers and we are peaceful,” he said describing the place as a unique community.
Explaining what led to these demolitions, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources in Lagos State, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the exercise was geared towards achieving zero tolerance for flooding and insecurity in the state.
Flooding
It is no longer news that Lagos is less than five metres above the sea level.
Being a coastal city, Lagos is at the risk from sea level rise and coastal flooding occasioned by annual rainfall.
The average temperature in Lagos is 27°C, and the annual average rainfall is 1,657 mm. However, it has been predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) that the state will experience abnormal rainfall in 2024 with a total of 1,936.2 mm.
It is a usual occurrence that after every rain, the streets of Lagos get flooded because of poor drainage systems and improper waste disposal.
Most of the time, the flooding leads to loss of lives and properties, breeding of disease-carrying rodents and mosquitoes. Floods also damage roads, thereby posing a threat to commuters.
Govt’s explanation
The commissioner, during the annual ministerial briefing to showcase the achievements of the ministry in the last one year, said that reviews showed that with the coastal nature of the state, past and present administrations have done a lot to ensure that Lagos does not experience loss of lives due to the vagaries of flooding that comes with torrential rainfalls while committing humongous resources.
“This has always come in terms of clearing the primary and secondary drainage channels on a yearly basis,” he said.
Justifying the recent demolition exercises, which he termed “removal”, Wahab said it was discovered that many major drainage setbacks in the state have been built upon.
He said that what the ministry did was to remove the buildings from the right of way of the drainage channels.
He said: “We discovered that because of the selfishness of some people, who considered themselves affluent and could have their way irrespective of whose ox is gored, many of major drainage setbacks have been built upon.
“This is after they have been served statutory contravention notices. Some even have their structures marked but they go ahead to remove the marking and continue with the erection of such structures.
“What is however ironic is that the same people who have used physical structures to block our drainage and do not allow the storm water to drain into the proper channels that will take it into the river or lagoon are the same people with the loudest voices in lampooning the state saying that it is not doing enough,” he said.
Contrary to the allegations that notices were not issued to affected individual home owners before demolishing the houses, the commissioner insisted that enough notices were issued.
Mende Villa demolition
On the demolitions at Mende, Ogudu, the commissioner said that more than two notices of demolition were served to residents.
“In 2021, my predecessor in office, Tunji Bello, served residents in Mende and Ogudu notices of demolition on the right of way of drainages, and this dialogue carried on for months.
“In November 2023, as commissioner, I also had meetings with representatives from Mende and notices of demolition were given to them,” he said
Just like other locations in which demolitions of buildings on drainage channels had been removed, Wahab explained that the developers and property owners, over the years, overshoot the areas marked for physical development, thereby encroaching on the approved alignment for road infrastructure development, drainage and canals
He stated that the developer of Mende Villa, who claimed he did not build on drainage alignment, was adamant on removing the contravening structures.
“Upon checking records and conducting new survey, it was established that some buildings within Mende Villa sit wholly in the right-of-way of System One drainage.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu intervened and directed that the width of the System One drainage alignment be reduced from 140 metres to 100 metres to save a lot of contravening properties from being demolished.
“The governor also directed that the 100 metres approved must be divided equally between Odo Iya Alaro side and Ogudu side.
“By implication, any structure found on either of the 20 metres alignment has to be removed. Those are the building being pulled down to clear the way for to System One drainage.”
Wahab said that right from the system 44 Ikota il Mobil Ologolo channel from where the ministry received a save-our-soul (SOS) message from many residents including residential estates about the unwholesome acts of a few individuals and property owners who have constructed structures on the drainage setback and also went ahead to fill up major drains leading to the Ikota, houses blocking the channel were removed.
“The management of the team led by the commissioner has been very decisive about the open display of brazenness by some property owners in the area.
“The top shots in the ministry have to contend with the campaign of calumny and falsehoods peddled to portray them of being high-handed, wicked and callous state officials.
“But because the ministry was on the side of the truth, it has ensured that the law took its effect,” the commissioner said.
Expert opinions
Experts have urged people, especially home builders to conduct research and get the right information before constructing their houses.
Reacting to the eviction of squatters under Dolphin Bridges and the subsequent demolition of their “houses”, Lagos -based estate surveyor and valuer, Mr Femi Oyedele, said it would score Lagos State Government low if it carried out the eviction without proper notice and alternative accommodation.
He said: “It is the function of the government to provide accommodation. If a government cannot provide accommodation for its vulnerable people, the best is to look the other way and allow them to fend for themselves.
“We call it ‘self-help’ in housing studies. There are squatters in Carlisle, France, who are trying to beat the law-enforcers and migrate to London, UK, through the tunnel to Dover.
“There are illegal squatters in Agadir, Morocco, who are trying to move to Europe.
“There are people sleeping under the bridge and train stations in USA.
“On Lampedusa in Italy, migrants do sleep in the open before they are accommodated.
“Since poor and vulnerable people are part of us, we must make sure we accommodate them by having provision for them. If government cannot help these people, it should not add to their woes,” he said.
According to Oyedele, the beauty of an “inclusive city” is the presence of all classes of people in a community.
“If the poor and vulnerable in the society cannot get befitting accommodation, it is not their fault but that of government. Housing is a right of everybody,” he said.
Corroborating Oyedele, US-based affordable housing advocate, Kunle Faleti, said it was sad that it took long for the industry to acknowledge the plight of homeless Nigerians.
He pointed out that the bottom line was that Nigerian communities lacked adequate safe emergency shelters or affordable housing.
“People who are unhoused have very few options other than living under bridges or public spaces.
“It’s time for stakeholders to start advocating permanent supportive housing. Everyone cannot own a home,” he said.
Another professional, John Bede Antonio, said that public funds should be rightly directed for efficient public administration.
“These law flouters should not only pay for the removal of their properties obstructing System One drainage, they should be prosecuted for economic wastage of resources.
“Government cannot be using its hard-earned money to clear their illegal structures,” he said
Antonio urged that the due process must be followed before construction.
“Written approvals are necessary from government before commencement of building. Anybody that does not have government approval to build has contravened the law,” he said
Explaining further the rationale behind demolition of houses in the state, the commissioner explained that the KAI/LAGESC operatives in conjunction with the State Task Force on Special Offences have also cleared under the bridges in the Ijora area which, according to him, had become abode to undesirable elements.
“The Apongbon Underbridge and Obalende Underbridge have become abode for undesirable elements who pose security risk to the state at Makinde and Jakande Estates in preparatory to the commencement of the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road,” he said.
Wahab disclosed that the contract for the expansion and lining of the Ikota II Mobil channel had been awarded and was ongoing, giving peace of mind to property owners and residents.
“The same has applied in Apapa where illegal extension of fences by property owners have prevented the ministry from having access to its drainage channels for many years.
“A similar scenario played out at the System 156 and 157 which has witnessed total obliteration of major drainage channels with buildings and the list such goes on and on,” he said.
He explained that the ministry has strengthened its Drainage Enforcement and Compliance Department to be very firm but polite in ensuring due diligence concerning all drainage channels and restoring right-of-way (ROW) on all channels.
“The ministry has also awarded contracts for the Restoration of the Right of Way on six natural drainage channels in the state.
“They include restoration of ROW of System 348-Aiyetoro/Iteku/Ishasi drainage channel Ojo Local Government Area; restoration of protection of ROW of system 120 drainage channel Omole-Ojodu Channel, Ojodu LGA; restoration and protection of ROW of system 1B Anthony Oke Alo Pry Channel Kosofe LGA; restoration of ROW of System131C-Odo Iraye, Epe Channel and restoration of ROW of system 109C-Eruwe Drainage Channel, Ikorodu
“In the drainage sector, while the ministry is ramping up to ensure law and order, it is also constructing new drainage channels while intensifying work on those ongoing. Presently, over 200km of secondary collector drains and 50km of primary channels and concrete lining of drainage channels have been achieved,” the commissioner said.
For the drainage maintenance, Wahab said that a total of 34 primary channels totalling approximately 115km were approved and executed; while 144 secondary collectors covering 125.7km spread were also cleaned.
According to him, 39 primary channels with a total length of 117.76 km have been approved for execution in 2024.
He added that about 281 secondary collector drains totalling 242.5 km have been approved for cleaning.
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