Demolitions: Development or a Witch-hunt?

Nigeria has had its share of hurdles in the quest to eradicate widespread poverty, strengthen institutions, eradicate corruption,  and build safe and sustainable cities and communities. A weakening economy, naira devaluation, violent conflicts and unstable exchange rates all threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability. Despite these obstacles, there is a growing recognition that governments at various levels and citizens have a part to play in advancing the nation’s developmental progress, be it through transparency, compliance, accountability or otherwise. Amidst this complex landscape, the demolitions of houses in Lagos State serve as a microcosm of broader challenges facing Nigeria in its developmental journey. While demolitions have been recorded in states like Anambra, Ogun, and Kano, the recent occurrence in Lagos State, by the Lagos State government and the Federal Housing Authority, has stirred many unanswered questions regarding the prompt behind the demolitions, who is wrong, and the historical antecedent to the issue.

The demolition of buildings in Lagos began on the 18th of November, 2023. So far, the Federal Housing Authority has earmarked 644 houses for demolition and demolished 10, citing illegal constructions along waterways and failure to meet structural integrity tests. Over the years, Lagos state has been among the states prone to floods, prompting the need for active measures to revisit development plans, address infractions, and avoid disasters.

However, the recent development raises several questions that warrant scrutiny. It is crucial to inquire what permissions were obtained before the erection of the structures, who issued the permits and what correspondence existed before the demolition. Regarding permits, the commissioner of physical planning and urban development in Lagos State, Mr Oluyinka Olumide, requested that any aggrieved come forward with valid building plans approved by the government.  In such a situation, the victims have room for recourse. A preliminary injunction issued by the Federal High Court in Ikeja against further demolitions on 6^th Avenue Festac town is a pointer for those seeking redress. Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, the absence of approval shifts the blame/attention to the property owners, who could be seen as cutting corners. A newspaper report revealed a series of meetings between property owners and the government to provide corrective measures against infractions that property owners allegedly disregarded.

A perception of a tribal witch-hunt has also accompanied the demolitions in Lagos State. Accusations have surfaced, alleging that the federal and state governments are engaged in a vendetta against the Igbo tribe through the demolition. Social media engagements on the issue have also stoked the discontent. However, it is not out of place to trace the roots of this perceived witch-hunt when looking back in retrospect to the perceived politics of nativism that occurred during the 2023 presidential and governorship elections in Lagos State. The conversation around the rights of “indigenes” and “fear” of non-indigenes remains a sensitive one in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos.

The effective state theory identifies the state as central to economic governance in providing key public services necessary for growth and structural change. From one perspective, the government’s actions can be viewed from this theory as setting the wheels in motion to address the irregularities hampering development. This goes a long way to ensuring that institutions must be efficient and accountable in service delivery. From another perspective, it can be deduced from this theory that the state fails to monitor housing approvals and fish out discrepancies before they become full-on crises. Here, landowners who may have gotten approvals through what they could have viewed as legitimate from officials within the civil service could also point to the fact that there is a need to review the corruption within the civil service.

Considering the necessity to adhere to development plans, aggrieved parties must seek redress in courts under the provisions of the state land laws. There is also a need for land owners to make appropriate enquiries and follow due process in the purchase of land upon which, in cases of demolitions currently occurring, valid grounds for redress would be in place. While there is no recourse in law for persons who have failed to follow due process, there is a need to factor in the economic hardship currently witnessed in the country and make temporary transition homes for those affected by the demolitions. When implementing public policy with the likelihood of ethnic connotation, governments at all levels should do a lot more consultations and engagement with stakeholders whom such action will affect most. They should also strategically communicate their intentions and possible outcomes to the likely affected, thereby removing any biases.

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