Outrage as Lagos demolishes buildings in Mende estate

The Lagos state government has commenced the demolition of some buildings at Arowojogbe in Mende estate, sparking outrage from residents and on social media.

In a trending video, an occupant of an affected building could be heard saying that the Lagos government only issued a two-hour notice.

“The Lagos state government gave us two hours to park out, where do they want us to go? This is the Nigeria we are in, they gave us two hours,” she alleged.

The video, which has gone viral on social media, elicited reactions from Nigerians.

The first set of people who witnessed Sanwo Olu’s wicked demolition agenda said nothing, because e no concern for them.

The second set of people also witnessed another batch of destruction but said nothing.

Third, and fourth set are watching without a protest.

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Until you… https://t.co/8xVopvCeWT

— A Field Marshal of the Han Dynasty⚡️ (@General_Oluchi) May 4, 2024

They are lying!

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They weren’t given 2 hours’ notice. It’s impossible. They are lying.

I have been involved and following the Lagos Real Estate Market since I became very interested in the market.

The government has been having meetings with all of these guys. I mean all the… https://t.co/H4RLMSsqx9

— 🏘️IamEri’Oluwa🇳🇬🇿🇦🇳🇦 (@IamEriOluwa) May 5, 2024

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Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, said the demolition was to reclaim the drainage setback.

Wahab said a vacation notice was served to the occupants of the building in 2021 and later in November 2023 — and not two hours before demolition as alleged by the inhabitants.

“Earlier today, I, the special adiviser on environment, Hon. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the PS OES, Dr Omobolaji Gaji, PS ODS, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite and other directors again visited the ongoing reclamation of the drainage setback on system 1 (Odo Iyalaro – Ogudu reach),” he said in a post on X(formerly Twitter).

“We also visited Mende villa, Maryland where the developer initially claimed there was a drainage approval on the property.

“The directors who were in the know of what transpired at the time, were invited to speak on the issue but confirmed that the developer was given temporary and conditional approval to leave a 20m setback from the edge of system 1 but he encroached on the setback thereby obstructing the flow of rainwater.

“The instruction to immediately continue the removal of all structures on the alignment has been given to the enforcement team after the 1st notice to remove was served on them in 2021 and the last notice was served in November 2023 after the meeting with the stakeholders.”