Show more Empathy in the Demolition of Buildings

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has pleaded with State Governments to show more empathy in the demolition of buildings and other structures across the country.

The Kano and Lagos States Governments, as well as some others, recently demolished some properties for allegedly violating regulatory requirements. The demolitions have generated outcries from a section of Nigerians who saw the demolitions as vindictive.

Reacting on Tuesday, in a post on LinkedIn, with respect to the Government’s demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures, Obi appealed to the authorities to strike a balance between upholding regulatory requirements and displaying empathy for individuals’ emotions and well-being.

He said, “We face a paradox, with a 70 million Housing deficit and vast unmet Housing needs nationwide. Some resort to self-help of building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices, and stores. Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved, or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.

“While some of these ongoing demolitions may be excusable, they have nonetheless left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided.” He explained that it is important to recognise that addressing planning or zoning violations by Governments, does not necessarily require punitive or overly harsh measures.

According to him, there should always be space for compassion and considerate corrective actions, when taking remedial steps. He, therefore urged the Government to take proactive measures to strike a balance when dealing with such issues.