A coalition of traders, landowners, and property developers has taken to the streets, vehemently opposing the “unlawful” demolition of their multi-million naira shopping plaza by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
Officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency, accompanied by policemen and thugs, stormed the plaza – a three-story building located at 7, 9, and 11 Akinsemoyin Street, by Breadfruit Street, Balogun, Lagos – and demolished the property, detailed the protesters, highlighting the use of force during the demolition without any prior notice.
In what appears to be a land-grabbing scheme, the property was later reassigned to another developer, who started building immediately, alleged the traders, expressing suspicion regarding the motives behind the abrupt demolition.
The aggrieved traders, demanding restoration to their property and fair compensation, brandished placards with messages such as: ‘Sanwo-Olu, call LABSCA, LASURA, LASPPA to order,’ ‘Sanwolu do not be silent,’ ‘Sanwolu, you said our rights as Lagosians would be protected,’ ‘LABSCA GM, how much did you collect for this job,’ ‘LASURA GM, how much did you collect for this hatchet job,’ ‘Sanwolu must speak up about his involvement in the demolition of our shopping Plaza,’ among others.
The traders claim that, despite paying N2.5 million and N2 million to Lagos State government officials for document regularization into two specified accounts, their property was still demolished by LABSCA officials.
The payments were made to a GTB account (number 0169226434) under Olusogo Titilola and a Wema Bank account (number 0243550566) under the House of Ghufraan.
Speaking to the press amid the demonstration, Mr. Chidozie Chikelu, the developer of the razed structure and Executive Director of Good Wave Resources Limited, conveyed his message. He emphasized that his company had leased the land from the Akinsemoyin family. He said:
“After leasing the land from the Akinsemoyin, we followed due process to ensure that the land was free from previous acquisition or encumbrances that could render it ineligible to be sold or leased.
“We also got necessary building permit to build on the land after following due process. We got a letter from the Office of the State Surveyor-General dated July 13, 2021, with reference number 05G 272/2022/VOL X/64, and signed by the duo of Tejuosho Adenike. A (Mrs) – Assistant Surveyor-General and Mr. Dada Oluwafemi, Principal Surveyor, on behalf of the Surveyor-General, Lagos State, gave the approval for the building to commence.”
Emeka Ojiego, the spokesperson for the traders, recounted the events of August 20, 2023. He described how they were abruptly awakened to the presence of officials from LABSCA, LASURA, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, and armed policemen at the building site on 7, 9, and 11 Akinsemoyin Street, near Breadfruit Street, Balogun, Lagos. The officials had a clear directive to demolish the structure.
Expressing their disapproval, members of the Akinsemoyin family, Oyeku Akinsemoyin and Gbenga Akinsemoyin, condemned the forceful invasion of their family land.
“That land where the demolished complex was built belongs to our family. We have owned the rights to the land since it was acquired in 1944. It is a freehold and there has never been any contention over it up till now. We the Akinsemoyin family duly signed a 15-year agreement leasing this land to Chidozie Chikelu, the developer and CEO of Good Wave Resources Limited.”
The incident, which unfolded on August 20, 2023, has ignited controversy, with the affected parties ardently seeking justice and accountability.
| Vanguard
