Residents of Oredola Community Develoment Association Ogolonto in Ikorodu area of Lagos state have besieged the Lagos State House of Assembly to prevail on Hon Sulaimon Olanrewaju the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu West LCDA and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA),to stop the unlawful and forceful demolition of their properties.
The protesters who wielded placards and banner with boldly written inscriptions like; “Save the poor”. “Give us back our lands”. “No to demolition of our properties”. “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu come to our rescue”.”Ogolonto Community say no to land encroachment! Respect of boundaries say no to unlawful acquisition and violation of fundamental human rights”.
They queried the real intent of the council boss and LASBCA as regards the demolition, adding that the same location in question where structures were pulled down due to clear contravention of existing law, was where they are constructing lock-up shops.
According to the protesters in a letter by their counsel presented to the house through Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2) and Hon. Stella Osafile (Amuwo Odofin 1) who were on hand to attend to them, the LASBCA after the first demolition of houses said to have been built under high-tension powerline on the 5th of March 2024, resurfaced on the 26th of March 2024 to serve a 7 days eviction notice after which marked buildings will be demolished.
The protesters alleged the newly marked structures were not in contravention of any law, since they were not under high-tension powerline as stated about the first location and that the council boss colluded with LASBCA to grab their properties.
In the letter LASBCA contravention notice was said to have been served on October 2023, and that consequently led to demolition of houses under high-tension powerline pursuant to Lagos state Urban and regional planning and development law 2019 and additional claim that it had to give way to railway station construction.
But weeks after, the council boss was alleged to have teamed up with some known stakeholders and individuals like; Sulaimon Omoyele aka Mauri, Hon Wale Saliu the Supervisor for Environment Ikorodu West LCDA,and Mr Olayemi (APC Leader) and also engaged a developer, who is constructing the lock-up shops for them to own with their lackeys.
Hon. Kehinde Joseph while reacting to the prayers of the protesters appreciated the peaceful manner their protest went and promised that the concerned quarters will be reached for thorough investigation into the matter.
