Labour Party presidential candidate in February polls, Mr Peter Obi has called on state governments where ongoing building demolitions are taking place to show more compassion in the light of the “paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide“.
Obi wondered why many of these structures possibly “built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities” are being demolished without consideration to “paying compensation to those who have lost properties and livelihood in these unfortunate demolitions“, especially at a time of “extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiralling inflation, huge unemployment, escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living“.
Since resuming office on May 29, some states like Lagos and Kano have embarked on massive demolition of buildings. In Kano, the government explained the land of those buildings was wrongfully acquired while the Lagos government gave the excuse the demolished houses at the Alaba International Market failed structural tests. The traders at Alaba, mostly from Southeast Nigeria believe the state government was targeting them for backing a different party at the polls.
The LP politician who his supporters insist won the presidential election said even if the demolitions were “excusable” due to “extant laws” compensation was still contemplatable “under the rubric of eminent domain that is applicable for properties and assets acquired or demolished in the public interest“.
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