The President, Ikota Low Cost Housing Estate Landlords’ Association, Mr. Titus Ewarawon, has called on the state government to stop the demolition of structures within the estate
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“Let them stop the demolition. We have our allocation papers. It is the government that resettled us in Ikota after the demolition of Maroko. So, the allottees and the non- allottees are all Maroko evictees. What we need is for the government to bring development to our community. Our roads are in deplorable condition. We need helps from the government,” he stated.

One of the residents and patron of the Landlords’ Association, Mr. I A Onakoya, said that he built his house in Maroko in 1970.

“I have about 17 rooms in my house in Maroko before they gave me this room and parlor here in Ikota as compensation. I am now 81. I don’t know where at my age I am going to sleep if they demolish this place.”

The Secretary of Ikota Landlords’ Association, Mr. Shonuga Olushola Adeyemi, said that the government should come to their aid.

“We have been suffering since we were evicted from Maroko in 1990. And up till this moment, no respite. We want the government to assist us in the provision of schools, good roads, drainage system and hospitals.”
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Adeyemi regretted that the Community Development Association (CDA) officials have not been representing the community very well.

The Matron of the Landlords’ Association, Mrs. Roseline Odimuko disclosed that when the military government gave Maroko residents seven days ultimatum to leave in 1990, they thought it was a joke. “It is similar to what the land-grabbers are doing in Ikota now.”

On her part, Mrs. Olabisi Saka said that the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) asked the developer to form a committee with Landlords’ Association and their lawyer, but the Multipurpose Infrastructural Development Company (MIDC) is not forthcoming.

Meanwhile, some of the community leaders in the estate have called for peace and an end to the hostilities in the estate, which is negatively affecting the community’s progress.
 
Engr. Olaoluwa Shittu said that he would not be part of those people who want to turn the community into a lawless society. “We want a solution to the crisis. So, we are appealing to the officials of the CDA and the Landlords’ Association to settle their differences amicably.”

The chairman of the CDA, Mr. Giwa Babatunde Masun, reiterated that he knew nothing about the demolition.
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