Obi shocked at Lagos, other states for demolishing properties of Nigerians already battered by economic hardship    

 

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has expressed dismay over the demolition of properties of Nigerians by governments at some states in the face of biting economic challenges.  

The Lagos state government has been demolishing hundreds of residential buildings over claim that they violated the state’s building laws. 

The areas mainly affected by the demolition are areas in Lekki, Alaba Market, Ajao Estate, Abule Egba, Ladipo Market, among others.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has also been demolishing structures that he said violated the building plan of the city.  

One of such structures was the popular Kilishi market located in the Area 1 area of Abuja.

Obi, in a reaction on X, said governance must have human face. 

He said: “It’s with complete despondency and unhappiness that I have followed the ongoing demolitions of properties across the country, especially knowing the extra hardship such acts have been heaping on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional Poverty.

“What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic  conditions  in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty.

“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.

“The poor in our midst who are putting their meager resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the life time savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.

“My appeal therefore is for the respective governments involved in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try and put a human face to their actions. While we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of government must show compassion. -PO”