THE South-West Professional Forum (SOWPROF) has said that majority of illegal structures demolished in Lagos are owned by Yoruba people.
In a statement on Thursday, SOWPROF, established in 2012 as a coalition of South-West based professional groups, dismissed insinuations that the demolition was targeting a particular group.
“We need to set the records straight. We have done diligent checks. We have a compilation of all the victims of the demolition of illegal structures in Lagos. We have done extensive compilation of the victims and the issues involved. Some 80 per cent of the victims of the demolished illegal buildings in Lagos are from the South West area” the SOWPROF in a statement signed by Lateef Kayode, the group’s assistant general secretary said.
The professional group said attempts by a few people to ethnicise the environmental issue was self-serving.
The group said it was a pity that ethnic politics was being introduced to the attempts by the Lagos State Government to deal with serious environmental hazards that had led to flooding, deaths and that even threatened the collective future of the people of the state.
It urged the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, not to be deterred by parochial critics introducing ethnic politics into a purely environmental issue.
SOWPROF said it started the compilation of names of the landlords five months ago and that the names of owners of the demolished buildings were available for the public.
The group said demolition of illegal buildings was a nationwide issue.
“It takes place in all the South-East, North-West, North-East and South-South. It has happened in Port Harcourt, Kano,Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Kaduna, Ilorin, Makurdi and in many cities across the country. It is unfortunate that some people are exploiting the fragile political situation in the country to cause disaffection using demolition of illegal buildings in Lagos State as a pawn in the game.”
SOWPROF said property owners should ensure they did not invest in land and property that infringed on existing environmental laws.
“We urge critics to recall that in September 2022, the then Ebonyi State hovernor, David Umahi of Ebonyi State directed the demolition of 65 houses at Ogwuma, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state, following a landslide recorded in the area in July” SOWPROF stated.
It noted that in Enugu State this year, the Obeagu and Ndiagu Amechi-Uwani Awkunanaw communities in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State called on the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) to shelve its planned demolition of over 200 houses in Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, otherwise known as Centenary City, noting that the government of Enugu State still carried out the demolition.
The group added that in Abia State, the Task Force demolished many structures in Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma, Obingwa and Ugwunagbor areas few months ago with Uche Ukeje, Special Adviser to Alex Otti, the governor of Abia, explaining that the demolition was necessary to ensure adherence to the master plan of the state.
“In Anambra State, the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) resumed the demolition exercise recently this year with over 100 shops, hotels, and residential apartments, located along Oby Okoli Avenue demolished to prevent flooding. Demolition of illegal buildings is a regular feature in Kano State and in Abuja,the Federal Capital Territory, FCT”, the group stated.
It urged investors to ascertain the legal status of any land or property before putting their money.
SOWPROF also asked the various state governments to reform the Land Ministry to ensure that investors did not put down their money, buy land, build the houses while government officials watch after collection of bribe only to discover the building had no approval.
“The State Governments should realise the Lands Ministry is riddled with corrupt officials. It is lack of wisdom to allow people to buy land, develop the land for months or even years while the Government watch the building only to come back years after to demolish the buildings after millions or even billions have been spent” the group cautioned.
