NGO tackles Lagos govt over demolition, burning of poor neighbourhood behind Jakande Estate

A non-governmental organisation, Spaces for Change, has described the demolition of a community behind Jakande Estate as a daylight display of gross injustice and inhumanity.

 

A statement by the NGO revealed that on Monday, March 11 the Lagos State Task Force comprising officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency and Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, demolish and burn homes, a school and a church in the community.

 

The statement said the wanton demolition of properties worth millions of naira left hundreds of people, mostly women and children, helpless and exposed to weather elements, without humanitarian and medical aid.

 

The statement reads in part; “The demolition which began by 9am of 11th of March, when most residents had gone out for their legitimate businesses, is alleged to be in response to the government’s “coastal alignment” efforts and poor sanitation concerns in the community. However, preliminary findings at the demolition site places these assertions beside the truth. There was no evidence of drainage blocking nor was the community the closet settlement to the sea. Evidently, there are other highbrow settlement closer to the sea, which were not considered for this demolition.

 

“This callous demolition violates their fundamental human rights of ownership of private property and human dignity; as protected by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. It is almost impossible not to think of this demolition as a case of the government wielding its coercive powers against the poor, marginalized and most vulnerable citizens. To say the least, this demolition is a demonstration of the deep insensitivity of the government to the current harsh economic realities in the country.

 

“We therefore call on the Government of Lagos State to take immediate steps to pay compensations and provide adequate succor in the form of medical and humanitarian assistance to these victims to cushion their respective losses. We also demand that steps should be taken to ensure that this daylight display of gross injustice, insensitivity and inhumanity does not go unchecked.”