Popular Nigerian singer, Yemi Alade, has spoken out against the recent wave of house demolitions in Lagos, criticizing the government for making life more difficult for citizens.
In a video message shared on her Instagram account, Yemi Alade expressed her dismay at the ongoing demolitions, which she believes are negatively impacting the real estate sector and driving investors away.
“Lagos State, what’s going on? Does it make sense that people will invest millions of naira and dollars into real estate; buy houses and lands and the state government will demolish the place and render people homeless overnight?
“This thing is happening repeatedly. Right now, Maryland, Mende area is on fire. People are sleeping in their houses, waking up the next day, homeless.”
Yemi Alade argued that the demolitions are not only ruining the real estate value of the state and country but also eroding people’s trust and hope.
“You’re ruining the real estate value of the state and country, making people lose trust not only just in the idea of Nigeria but lose hope entirely in the little coins they saved to make their lives worthwhile. How is this okay? Why why?”she added.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has however explained that the demolished houses were built on drainage channels.
He stated that the developer had been given temporary and conditional approval to leave a 20m setback from the edge of System 1 but had encroached on the setback, obstructing the flow of rainwater.
According to him, Governor @jidesanwoolu has shown magnanimity by approving the reduction of the Right of Way (ROW) from 140 meters to 100 meters, to be spread on a 60/40 basis between Mende and Ogudu communities. The enforcement team he stated has been instructed to continue removing structures on the alignment, following notices served in 2021 and November 2023.
On his X handle, Wahab wrote:
“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.
“However, by the magnanimity of Governor @jidesanwoolu, the ROW was approved to be reduced to 100 meters from 140 and spread on a 60/40 basis ( 60 Mende /40 Ogudu) instead of the initial 140 sitting on the Mende side. 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.”
