Residents Groan As Lagos Govt Demolishes Structures Under Power Lines

Residents and traders in Ikola, Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State are counting their losses following the demolition of houses, shops and other makeshift structures under high tension power lines by Lagos State government authorities after a violent clash between Hausa and Yoruba residents in the community.

The demolition exercise which began shortly after the August 27 communal violence at Power Line Bus Stop was carried out by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in collaboration with the police and the Rapid Response Squad.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that before the demolition of the structures four adult males were confirmed dead in the clash which reportedly followed a disagreement over a N200 levy allegedly collected from commercial tricycle operators before escalating into violence between members of the two communities.

Several makeshift structures were also burnt while a number of people sustained injuries even as the state government said the demolition was primarily a safety intervention to remove structures built within the statutory right-of-way of high-voltage transmission lines.

However, residents affected by the exercise disputed aspects of the government’s account, saying the demolition had left many families homeless and destroyed businesses and property accumulated over several years.

Residents affected by the demolition, many afraid to give their names for fear of further victimisation, told LEADERSHIP Weekend correspondent who visited the scene of demolition their ordeals, saying the demolition had compounded their hardship created by the clash.

Mr. Ola Kuye, an affected resident, said, “They demolished our houses and destroyed our properties. Some of us have nowhere to go now. We were already trying to recover from what happened during the crisis before the demolition came.”

Another resident said the demolition was particularly painful because some affected families had lived in the area for years.

“We understand that there are dangers under the power lines, but the government should have considered the people living here. Where do they expect families to go? Many people have lost everything,” the resident said.

Another resident Mrs. Edna Onuwa, a foodstuff seller, informed LEADERSHIP Weekend that they were affected by the exercise even as she said she was forced to salvage whatever belongings she could before the bulldozers moved in.

“Some of us were running around trying to save our belongings. You cannot imagine the pain of watching the place you have lived in being pulled down,” she said.

Another resident appealed to the state government to consider the plight of displaced families and provide assistance.

“We are not saying the government should allow people to live where their lives are at risk. But if the government wants us to leave, there should be somewhere for us to go. Many families have children and businesses here,” he said.

One resident seen standing by the road side said the exercise had compounded the hardship caused by the communal clash.

“They demolished our houses and destroyed our properties. Some of us have nowhere to go now. We were already trying to recover from what happened during the crisis before the demolition came,” he said.

A widowed petty trader told LEADERSHIP Weekend while pointing at her demolished shop, said the demolition destroyed her only source of livelihood.

“That place is where I see money to feed myself. I’m a widow, no husband. There’s nowhere to go now. I don’t have anything or anybody to assist me,” she said.

Another property owner who refused to give his name for fear of being denied compensation said a 30-year investment valued at more than ₦200 million was demolished. Some residents also alleged that they received little or no prior notice before the bulldozers arrived.

“Not even a warning or a one-year notice. They just came and destroyed everything we owned,” a resident said.

Another resident acknowledged the danger posed by structures beneath power lines but appealed to the government to consider the plight of affected families.

“We understand that there are dangers under the power lines, but the government should have considered the people living here. Where do they expect families to go? Many people have lost everything,” the resident said.

The demolition has also generated allegations that the safety justification could be used to facilitate land acquisition by private developers.

The allegation has not been independently established, while the state government has maintained that the exercise was driven by safety and regulatory concerns.

A resident, Adewale Omoboriola, expressed concern about the security implications of the displacement and urged security agencies to remain in the area to prevent further attacks.

Another resident, Hauwa Ibrahim, called on the authorities to disclose the number of people displaced and explain what arrangements had been made for them.

The Chairman of Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA, Abiodun Jimoh Isola said he had earlier condemned the communal violence and appealed for calm.

He said security agencies had since moved into the area to restore peace and order.

Commenting on the demolition exercise, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the structures posed serious risks of electrocution, fire outbreaks and structural collapse.

He said affected residents were given adequate notice to evacuate and retrieve their belongings, stressing that the operation was not targeted at any ethnic group.

According to him, the communal violence only drew renewed attention to the dangers posed by informal settlements beneath high-tension power lines.

The LASEMA boss said the affected structures were located within the power-line corridor and that heavy recovery equipment was being used to clear the area.

The agency also said the government would continue engaging community leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to promote peaceful coexistence and compliance with urban planning regulations.