Waterfront communities barricade Ambode’s office

*Demands stop to ongoing demolition

Hundreds of owners of structures and residents of waterfront communities in Lagos State yesterday stormed State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode’s office and barricaded the entrance, protesting against demolition of buildings along the waterfronts.

The protesters argued that until their arrival at the State House, they were yet to receive any response from the officials.

They added that while awaiting the governor’s response, his officials over the weekend demolished structures in Ilu-Birin, displacing hundreds of residents.

The residents, who were armed with placards with some of the inscriptions that reads: We are human being not animals; Don’t displace us because we voted for you; We have right to life and others.

The protesters, who defied the scorching sun to express their displeasure over the planned demolition at the governor’s office, argued that the demolition would displace over one million residents living within the communities scattered across the state.

It would be recalled that the State Government had recently issued a seven-day ultimatum to owners of structures on waterfront.

The protesters, representing various waterfront communities in the state, argued that they were not aiding kidnapping, saying “we often go about with our lawful fishing businesses.”

They noted that displacing the residents of the communities would not end crime rather further escalate it, adding “poverty can push anyone into committing crime.”

Speaking on the development, Reverend Samuel Adewale, “when we came last week, the representative of the governor urged us to go home, even as he assured us that in another 36 hours, we would receive the his response to our protest. But we are yet to receive any response. Rather than respond, the governor ordered ordered his officials to continue with the demolition of Ilu-Birin.”

In the letter earlier presented by the protesters, which reads in part: “Governor Ambode announcement tied the demolition of our communities to security concern. If the government wishes to fight crime and insecurity, evictions are not the answer. The answer is to strengthen community policing .Our communities are already taking steps to fight crime through private vigilante that we organise ourselves through household levies.”

“Our communities are full law abiding, we belong in the city and we have a right to the city as well as right to shelter and to livelihood. Forced eviction is not only unlawful, it is also ineffective.

“It will not set Lagos on the path to being a global mega-city. The only path to real mega-city status is to embrace the urban poor and partner with us to find lasting solutions to challenging urban problems such as security and development.”