Many residents of Ajebo Lane, Atobaje area in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State have raised the alarm that criminals have taken over some of the partly demolished buildings in the area by the state government. A resident, Mrs. Omotayo Fasasi, told PUNCH METRO on Wednesday that since the incident, criminals had turned the unoccupied houses into their hideouts, terrorising people in the neighbourhood at night. She also said the debris of the buildings had blocked the available gutters in the area making it impossible for water to flow into the canal, adding that the area had become mosquitoes-infested. Fasasi said, "In our building, only four rooms were affected by the demolition. As a result of this, those who occupied them had to look for alternative accommodation. Most worrisome is that hoodlums have taken over the abandoned buildings. "We are not against government coming to rehabilitate the canal, but destroying our houses under flimsy excuses is not acceptable." Also, the Pastor of Powerline Centre Worldwide, Solomon Abioye, flayed the government for demolishing the buildings without taking the interest of the residents into consideration. He alleged that the government, through its Ministry of the Environment, pulled down some structures to create a passage for the tractors that would carry out the dredging of an abandoned canal in the area. He said their buildings were not close to the canal, stressing that the demolition was unbecoming of a government that was supposed to protect its citizens. He said although the residents appreciated the efforts of the government to find a lasting solution to the canal problem, he maintained that the government should have considered the issues of relocation and compensation for displaced residents. Abioye said, "The Ministry of the Environment served notice on residents but before the notice expired, they had moved in with their bulldozers and destroyed some buildings including a church. "They demolished some apartments while their occupants were inside. The occupants survived by a whisker. I wonder which government will be so wicked to do this to people who elected it." "The people went through horror on the fateful day. I do not know the kind of compensation government is talking about. I feel strongly that people should be compensated. Again, they should expedite action on the dredging of the canal so that those displaced can come back and rebuild their houses," Abioye said. He appealed to the Babatunde Fashola administration to intervene in the matter in order to mobilise contractors to site to be able to complete the dredging in good time. Another resident, who craved anonymity because of fear of the government, said he had yet to come to terms with what informed the demolition. He said the residents expected the government to dredge the canal, but wondered that the government had inflicted more pains on them. He also expressed concern that some of the buildings were now being occupied by hoodlums, adding that this had security implications for the community."When government officials come to inspect this area, we were all happy that at last our problem would be over. Little did we know that their coming was going to leave us with tears and sorrow. I have been looking for where to squat since my apartment was affected by the demolition," he said.The Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the contractors would soon be mobilised to the area to continue with the dredging. Bello said in a text message to PUNCH METRO, "Dont worry; the contractor will soon be on site. It is not how long but how well. He (the contractor) has yet to collect his mobilisation which he will get anytime from now. "However, what has contractor mobilisation got to do with mosquitoes' If houses were demolished for drainage contravention, should they now go back because of mosquitoes'"
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