Civil society organisations under the aegis of the Take It Back Movement, on Saturday, demanded compensation for victims of demolition in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.

The CSOs who addressed a joint press conference alongside some residents and community leaders of Oworonshoki, called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to put an end to the demolition and forceful displacement of residents of the area.

It would be recalled that residents including children and women were rendered homeless following the demolition that began last year in the area by the state task force.

Streets such as Oke-Eri, Oluwaseyi, Community, Cornerstone, Ogo-Oluwa and others, housing several buildings, were affected by the demolition.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, had said the state government was only removing shanties and criminal hideouts in the area.

However, the CSOs at the press conference, condemned the demolition, saying poor families were being displaced from their homes.

“We, the undersigned organizations condemns with strong vehemence, the nonchalant attitude, total negligence and continues threat by the Lagos State Government to the poor people of Oke-Eri, Odun’fa, Lone, Ogo-Oluwa, Precious Seed and Coker environs of Oworoshoki Area of Lagos State.

“Today makes it exactly one year that the Lagos State Police Task Force acting on the directive of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment invaded the Mosafejo and Precious Seed Communities of Oworoshoki with bulldozers and armed police officers thereby burning and demolishing houses without even allowing people to take their properties. About one thousand homes were either burned or knocked down by bulldozers rendering over ten thousand residents homeless.

“It should also be noted that the Lagos State has a historical record of being notorious for forceful evictions and destruction of homes and livelihoods of poor working people. According to a 2017 Amnesty International investigation, nearly two million Lagosians had been forcibly evicted from their homes and workplaces by Lagos State officials over the last two decades. And these evictions have continued since Sanwo Olu became Governor in 2019 and even more now.

“The main aim of these forceful evictions is to grab land from the poor and redistribute it to the rich and powerful through private developers.

“We also want to bring it to public notice that one year after the illegal and forceful eviction, we have recorded 13 deaths as a result of the aftermath of the demolition which includes 4 children, 2 men and 7 women respectively. These also include thousands of victims that are still homeless and their means of livelihood ruined.

“It’s so sad and pathetic that up to date, the Lagos State Government under Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu has turned a deaf ear to the plight of the victims. Instead of awarding compensations including resettlement of the thousands that have been unjustly displaced, made homeless and without property, the Lagos State continue to issue threat under different guise to evict more people from the community. Just about two weeks ago, some unscrupulous elements said to be working under the directive of the Oba of Oworoshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu, who was formerly the vice chairman of Kosofe Local Government issued a threat to the People of Precious Seed community and ordered them to vacate their homes before 1st of August 2024 in order to create more space to build a Shrine called (Igbo’ro).

“We need to reiterate that the right to shelter is a fundamental human right which is guaranteed in the Nigerian constitution. The fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy, as stated in Section 16(2)(d) of the 1999 constitution, provide that the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that suitable and adequate shelter is provided for all citizens.

“It is on this note that we call on the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu to immediately

• “call the Oba Oworoshoki, Oba Babatunde Saliu to order on the recent threat to precious seed to vacate their homes before 1st August 2024.
• award compensations including resettlement of the thousands that have been unjustly displaced, made homeless, and without property.
• pay a visit to the families of the 13 persons that have lost their lives as a result of the demolition and provide adequate compensation for their families.

We refuse to be the lamb that is sacrificed on the altar of the insatiable greed of an elite minority.

WeCantContinueLikeThis

Signed:

Take It Back Movement

Coalition Of Victims Of Oworoshoki Illegal Demolition”