Over 5000 residents evicted from IJORA by Lagos State Govt (A Slum they Say)

No fewer than 5,000 residents of Iganmu Alawo community in Apapa Iganmu local council development area were yesterday rendered homeless as the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit evicted the slum dwellers.

The chairman of the taskforce, Mr.BayoSulaiman , a chief superintendent of police, who led the demolition squad , said the state government could no longer allow the existence of the slum in the heart of the metropolis given its status as Africa’s mega city.

According to him, “there is no way we will achieve mega city status with this kind of slum in this area. You can see it is a swampy area. The Nigerian Breweries Ltd is very close and there are some other industries and to allow a slum to remain here is not acceptable.

“If they are allowed to stay here, people will ask why the government allows a slum in the heart of the city. Obviously there is no resistance from anybody, they have been cooperating because they were duly informed. Some of them are already removing their roofs, we have been on this matter for over six months,” Sulaiman said.

The Baale of Iganmu Alawo community, Chief Lucas Owosheni Medunoye, said the structures were pulled down without proper notice.