Lagos demolishes buildings for ‘right of way…’

For Lagos residents living along the Abule-Egba-Sango route, the ongoing construction of a bridge at Abule-Egba, no doubt, is a development they are excited about. This is because at the completion of the bridge, it would take away the pains of spending several hours in traffic as well as the chaotic situation often associated with the Abule-Egba Roundabout.

Also, the excitement of the arrival of a bridge has been cut short for some, especially those within the Abule-Egba Roundabout. This is because some buildings, especially those within the Abule-Egba Roundabout, must be pulled down.

And yesterday, caterpillars from the state government came calling at their doorsteps, ramming into some of such structures, crushing them into pieces. Buildings housing branches of popular banks, fast-food restaurants, accommodations, all had to give way. These buildings, which added colour to the rusty landscape of Abule-Egba by the evening of yesterday, were shadows of their old selves, if not yet debris.

Some of the residents were seen trying to salvage some of the fittings within their rooms and property before the buildings went down. While some were lucky that it was a part of their building that got crushed, some were not, as the whole structure were demolished for the coming bridge.

Ironically, as occupants and owners of the buildings were lamenting what had befellen them; some scavengers were having a field day picking metals and other disused items.

Two days back, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Shina Odunuga, had announced that it would commence the removal of property impeding the right of way of ongoing construction on the reinforced concrete dual carriage flyover bridge at Abule Egba junction.

The ministry claimed that it had earlier agreed with the owners/occupiers of buildings during a consultative stakeholders forum held on Tuesday September 20, 2016, to remove structures that may likely impede the right of way and construction. “In addition, statutory notices were served on the owners and occupiers.”

The ministry, however, claimed that the owners had earlier in the day commenced voluntary removal of the properties before the officials moved in. “The ministry allowed this so as to enable the owners to conduct a controlled removal with minimum loss of valuables. The state government has earlier said there is the need to implement an existing acquisition as provided in the Federal Highway Regulations as contained in the Public Land Acquisition Act and gazetted by the Federal Government for Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway Right of Way;

The ministry emphasised the agreed 45.72 metres on the right side and 45.72 metres on the left side from the centre of the existing road as contained in the rmoval notice.

“The State Government also reiterated that members of the general public whose property may be affected and having valid claim, to forward documents of such to the Ministry for record and other administrative purposes.”