MICHAEL AKINOLA
Aggrieved Landlords in Igbogbo-Baiyeku area of Ikorodu, Lagos whose houses were demolished, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to hasten the compensation promised on the affected properties.
According to the landlords, it is already one year since the promise of compensation was made with no single action to fulfill it.
The houses were demolished in December 2017, to give way for the rehabilitation and expansion of roads in Ikorodu West and Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).
One of the property owners, Mr. Arogundade Jacob, said they have been called to bring documents to facilitate the payment but they are yet to get compensation from the government.
“I saw my building being demolished in my presence; I am a pensioner and that is the house I built with my last kobo, I need the money to build a small shelter for myself,” he pleaded.
Also speaking, Mr. Adegoriola Atunrase, whose four bedroom flat was demolished, said his house served as a source of income to him and now nothing remains.
He also appealed that the money be paid as the stakeholders had raised their hopes during the post demolition meetings.
“Commencing the project without compensation paid to us would subject us to untold hardship,” he said.
Another landlord, a cleric in one of the affected mosques, Imam AbdulQuadri Atinla, lamented that the demolition had rendered many landlords homeless, thereby making some landlords to sleep in the mosque.
“Even though 60 per cent of the mosque was demolished, many people still manage in the small room left in the mosque.
“We beg the Lagos State Government to give us the money this month so that we can all smile again during festive period,”he said.
A landlady, Mrs Emily Nwoke-Duko, also appealed to the government to hasten the compensation because of security reasons as her house had no door after it was demolished halfway.
The property owners are appealing to the state government to help hasten the process of compensation.