Demolition of communities in Ogba by Lagos Government is sheer wickedness, reckless and inhuman

SPN Demands adequate compensation for the victims

The Lagos State government ruthlessly began the demolition of buildings from Yaya Abatan to Obawole in Ogba area of Lagos State this week. According to the usual blackmailing public stunt, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello in his response, said the demolished structures were illegally built.
Lagos State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemns the Lagos State Government for demolishing buildings without an alternative housing arrangement for the people or compensations. The demolition is made worse when the vast majority of poor people and workers are passing through intensified crises of hunger and deprivation as a result of government lockdown in response to COVID-19.
This is sheer wickedness and insensitivity at its unimaginable height and man’s inhumanity to man as the Lagos State government failed to provide adequate palliatives, only to subject the poor people to more hardship and agony. The palliatives provided in all sense of reasoning are not only inadequate, but also insulting.
SPN holds that this demolition by the Lagos State Government undermines the stay-at-home and social distancing order and has violated the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020. The right to housing is more than ever before an inalienable right, creating homelessness and making the lockdown for the affected community horrendous amount to State terror.
SPN calls for the arrest and prosecution of the Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello and all other Lagos State Government officials who ordered and actively carried out the demolition for violating the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and rendering many households homeless.
SPN also demands that the State Government should provide alternative housing for the affected people and pay adequate compensation to all the victims of the demolition.

Rufus Olusesan
Chairperson

Shoyombo Monsuru
Publicity Secretary
Website: www.socialistpartyofnigeria.org.ng
E-mail: socialistpartyofnigeria@yahoo.com