Bulldozers roar … and shop owners mourn

Rumpus in Ejigbo as Lagos State government demolishes 3,000 structures in Jakande Estate
Operatives of the Lagos State Building Investment Corporation (LSBIC), yesterday demolished over 2,000 illegal structures and makeshift shops allegedly used to deface Jakande Estate in Ejigbo.

The action of the agency, according to residents and shop owners in the estate, have rendered hundreds of people jobless as the shops provided ‘daily bread’ to its owners.

According to one of the residents, Kayode Adesina, who spoke to The Guardian amidst tears: “The demolition was carried by the Lagos State Building Investment Corporation and the Ministry of the Environment. They gave us notice of demolition but where do they expect us to go? They said they wanted to beautify the estate. They came with over seven bulldozers and dozens of military men and here we are, I have my children in the university. My job stopped and it was from this shop that we have been feeding on.

“I am devastated as I speak to you now. We have gone to the Lagos State House of Assembly to register our protest; we have also been to Baba Jakande’s house. I am confused and I don’t know what to do. I am beginning a new month with my livelihood all in ruins.”

Another shop owner, Gboyega Adebanjo, told The Guardian that the entire estate would protest against the action of government.His words: “This is not the change we voted for. It is unfair that the actions of government are usually against the poor and the middle class. What do they expect us to do now? How can they come and destroy our source of livelihood?”

According to another resident, who identified himself as Damilola Agbaje, “the exercise carried out by government is not in our favour. It is not good that Lagos State government has continued to make life miserable for us. We are not in a happy mood at all. This is not a good way to start a new month.”

Residents of the area were sighted wearing long faces as scavengers had a field day carrying metals from the shattered buildings.Although, shop owners had attempted to halt the demolition, they were prevented by fierce-looking military personnel, who came with the Lagos State officials.

One of the shop owners who spoke with The Guardian noted that she had owned the place for over a decade.Earlier on Monday, the residents had marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest against the scheduled demolition, asking the House to prevail on the state government to halt the planned action.

Some of the residents during the protest had complained that the LBIC gave them a notice on Friday, October 28 intimating them of the exercise, which was carried out yesterday.

Leader of the protesters, Chief Olawale Osanyinpeju, said the estate was constructed by former governor Lateef Jakande in the 80s, while the residents built shops on spaces around their houses.

“The LBIC came during the tenure of former governor Raji Fashola and said we would be paying ground rent of N1,000 for containers and N500 for small shops and we complied.

“These shops are our means of livelihood since we are mostly pensioners and retirees. We obtained permit before erecting the shops and we pay annual dues to LBIC. We equally pay council dues to Ejigbo Local Council Development Area,” Osanyinpeju said.