Save our homes from demolition, Akute residents cry out

Despite the formal appeal made by the residents of Akute and its environs to Lagos and Ogun state governments over the 7-day demolition notice served on the area last week, the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning visited the area yesterday, Wednesday 20, to serve a final notice to carry out the action.

The team, which arrived the area at 10am in four white vans with registration numbers EPE 32 DM, EPE 33DM, KTU 455CN and KRD 123 CM belonging to Lagos State Water Corporation, were loaded with 20 armed policemen and 17 officials of the ministry to serve the notice.

It would be recalled that the residents had written appeal letters to both Governor Babatunde Fashola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun earlier, pleading that the initial 50 metres setback on the proposed Adiyan Water Project should be reduced to 20 metres.

As it stands, no fewer than 6,000 houses, mosques, churches and schools would be affected if the two governments carry out their the exercise, and would render more than 60,000 residents homeless.

One of the two notices served on Wednesday issued from Agbado ZPO, Along Agbado New Road, Agbado, dated May 20, read:

“Sequel to our previous stop-work order, Contravention and Demolition Notice served on you, you are hereby informed to vacate the property within seven days from the date of service of this notice. You are advised to remove all valuables within the specified time. Please note that the Board will not be liable for any loss or compensation whatsoever suffered by you for any removable property or destroyed during the demolition exercise.”

The second paper tagged “Quit Notice” stated that the occupants should vacate the properties within seven days from the date of service of the notice.

Consequent upon the previous notice, some of the affected landlords and landladies, who are predominantly aged and retirees, have been hospitalised.

The residents were appealing to both governments to reconsider their stand to save the suffering masses.

Chairman of the Joint Community Development Committees (CDCs), Rev. Joshua Adegbola, said chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and other patriots within and outside the country should intervene in the matter.

He said: “We call on the President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other well-meaning leaders in the country to please help us in this present predicament. We are helpless. We believe the project can still hold successfully with 20 metres set back. We believe in your prompt intervention.”