Demolitions: Lagos Govt’s Bulldozers Face Iponri Next

Iponri, another legendary slum in the mainland is next direction, in the gale of demolitions planned by the Lagos State government in pursuit of a better city dream.

But it won’t be generality of the residents and businesses that should bother as the target is the Iponri Housing Estate, Surulere.

Over 15 distressed buildings would give way in the planed demolitions at Iponri Housing Estate, Surulere, even as the government has unveiled plans to assist those that would be affected.

This would be coming after a two-week evacuation order issued by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

Director of Public Affairs at LASBCA Adu Ademuyiwa, stated in a statement on the agency’s official X account on Tuesday, referenced a meeting of interest parties before the bulldozers move in.

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Those represented in the meeting held at LASBCA’s headquarters in Ikeja, GRA, are the LASBCA, the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), and residents of the Iponri Housing Estate.

Proving an insight on the planned demolitions, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, General Manager of LASBCA, said it was critical to ensuring public safety by preventing potential building collapses.

LASBCA, he added was working closely with LBIC to ensure residents are relocated within the two-week timeframe.

He thus dispelled impressions of the demolitions being a punitive measure.

“The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and Lagos Building Investment Company Plc (LBIC) met with the residents of Iponri Housing Estate, whose buildings were marked for demolition due to their distressed conditions, and a two-week ultimatum was given to them to evacuate at LASBCA’s Headquarters in Ikeja, GRA,” the statement read in part.

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“Oki stressed that the Lagos State Building Control Agency is working assiduously with Lagos Building Investment Company Plc to ensure that the affected residents are properly and adequately relocated within the period given for evacuation.

“ This is a move that will help cushion the effect of the eviction on the affected residents.”