Operatives of the Lagos State Building
Investment Corporation, Monday, demolished
over 2,000 illegal shanties and makeshift
shops allegedly used to deface Jakande
Estate in Ejigbo. The action of the agency,
according to residents and shop owners in
the estate have rendered hundreds of people
jobless as the shops provided a ‘daily bread’
to the owners.
According to one of the residents, Kayode
Adesina who spoke to The Guardian amidst
tears:
“The demolition was carried by the
Lagos State Building Investment
Corporation and the Ministry of
Environment.
They gave us notice of
demolition but where do they expect
us to go. They said they want to
beautify the estate. They came with
over seven Bulldozers and dozens of
military men and here we are, I have
my children in the university. My job
stopped and it was from this shop
they demolished that we have been
feeding on.
“I am devastated as I speak to you
now. We have gone to the Lagos State
House of Assembly to register our
protest; we have also been to Baba
Jakande’s house. I am confused and I
don’t know what to do.”
Another shop owner, Gboyega Adebanjo told
The Guardian that the entire estate would
protest the action of government.
His words:
“This was not the change we voted
for. It is unfair that actions of the
government are usually against the
poor and the middle class. What do
they expect us to do now? How can
they just come and destroy our source
of livelihood?”
According to another resident, who identified
himself as Damilola Agbaje:
“The exercise carried out by
government is not in our favour. It is
not good that Lagos State government
has continued to make life miserable
for us. We are not in a happy mood at
all.”
Women and youths of the area were sighted
wearing long faces as scavengers had a
filled day carrying metals from the destroyed
buildings.
Although, shop owners had attempted to halt
the demolition, they were prevented by fierce
looking military personnel who came with the
Lagos State officials.
One of the shop owners who spoke with The
Guardian said that she had owned the place
for over a decade.
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