Landlords protest non-payment of compensation three years after demolishion

Etim Ekpimah

Property owners in Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, LCDA, on Monday protested non-payment of compensation by Lagos State government three years after their houses were demolished to allow for road expansion.

The protesters stated that they had submitted all the necessary documents that the state government required of them as condition for the payment of compensation to the appropriate authority.

They carried placards with descriptions like: “Save our soul;’ Please listen to Mr Sanwoolu;’ 3 years today 7/12/2017 to 7/12/2020;’ We are homeless for three years;’ Mr Gov pay us our compensation,” among others.

Chairman, Igbogbo Residents Association, Mr Jacob Arogundade, decried the hardship owners of the demolished property are going through, urging the Lagos State government to pay the affected landlords their compensation in full and on time.

He said: “We have done a lot to bring this situation to the notice of the government; they kept promising us till this present moment.

“Health wise we are suffering because of the dust emanating from the unconstructed road; it seems government does not have interest for people living in this area because we are surprised.”

He added that those whose property were demolished had celebrated three Eidel Kabir and Christmas in penury and homeless, adding that some of them have turned to vagabond. He noted that more than 25 people have died.

However, some of the landlords use their houses as their only sources of income to take care of themselves and their families.

“We have spent three years in penury and homeless. I am 76 years old pensioneer, everything I laboured and worked for I uses in building my house, but today is no more.

“We have celebrated three festive years in this condition, we have lost more than 25 people of our members.

“Government should please come to our aid,” he said.

Also speaking, a 69-year-old Mrs Dorcas Aroyewun, appealed to LASG to fulfil their promises over the payment adding they have fulfilled the necessary protocol for their money to be paid.

Aroyewun stressed that most times they were persuaded to be patient whenever they went to Governor Office to express their grievances.

“Last time we went to governor’s office to protest, but we were persuaded to go back home that our money will be paid soon,” she said.

Pastor Obadare Gabriel, of C&S church also appealed to government over the payment of the compensation, adding that his church was demolished without prior notice.

A Muslim cleric, Imam Ahmed Abdulraheem and representative of the Muslim community also called on Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu to listen to the plight of the people concerning the payment of compensation.

“Many landlords are suffering non-payment of compensation because most of them have no alternative source of income and they are old.

“My father died when he heard that his house has been demolished, even me, my house was not left out during the exercise and many others like that,” he said.

Pastor Solomon Monebi of the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke also appealed to the state government to consider the agreement signed with the landlords before embarking on the demolition exercise.