Residents lament as LASG carries out demolition exercise in Amuwo Odofin

The Lagos State Government on Monday continued a demolition exercise of illegal structures in the Amuwo Odofin axis of the state.

TheNewsGuru.com authoritatively reports that the demolition team arrived the axis on Monday with heavy security operatives and started bulldozing the identified properties almost immediately.

Findings by TheNewsGuru.com reveals that the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Planning had on January 19th issued a 7-day ultimatum to the residents who erected structures on drainages, walkways and additional extensions to their flats to remove them.

BELGIUM… A POPULAR CANTEEN IN AMUWO ODOFIN WAS ALSO DEMOLISHED

One of the affected shop owners, an aged electrician who spoke to TheNewsGuru.com on condition of anonymity said he never anticipated what his happening. He said he believed so much in the Ambode government and had even invested in its emergence in 2015. He said it was bad that the only dividend he is reaping is the demolition of his only means of livelihood.

In his words: “Is this the change we voted for? Is this how they want to pay us back? How do they expect me to feed my family? I am a pensioner, this is the only job I do to survive and now the government has destroyed my shop without giving us enough time to plan ahead”

However, the Lagos State Government said it embarked on the demolitions because the illegal structures were altering the Amuwo Odofin Estate’s Master Plan created over two decades ago.

Conversely, as a temporary way of surviving, some of the residents whose shops were demolished have now resorted to displaying their wares outside their flats. Other residents who sell food and electronic materials now use the open spaces in their vicinities as trade centers.

In another reaction, a dry cleaner, who identifies himself as Ahmed said he has lost over 60 percent of his customers. He revealed that the hospitals in Amuwo Odofin are jam-packed because some of the residents who were victims of the demolition cannot withstand the emotional trauma. The experience has made them become patients in hospital.

TheNewsGuru.com made frantic efforts to speak with the officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban development for reactions, but efforts unsuccessful