Following several months of meetings with stakeholders, especially those whose properties were marked for demolition, to pave the way for the construction of the Igbogbo-Bola Tinubu-Igbe Road, the Lagos state government has commenced demolition of ancient buildings on the right of way of the new road.
On a visit to Igbogbo town, Ikorodu Oga Radio observed that several new and ancient buildings, including the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo palace has been demolished as part of efforts to facilitate the construction of the new road. Many excited residents of Igbogbo also trooped out in their numbers to witness the demolition exercise, that is set to open the community up to unprecedented development. While some were seen using their mobile devices to record the demolition exercise, others were seen taking pictures.
In a chat with some of the residents, majority expressed happiness at the road construction and thanked Gov Akinwunmi Ambode for making good his promise to develop the community.
However, some of the residents lament that the government did not give them enough notice before embarking on the demolition exercise. They complained of not having enough time to plan for an alternative accommodation before the bulldozers arrived.
An Igbogbo resident, Dankuwo Adeleke said, ‘The government ought to have given residents enough notice before commencing the demolition. Though, we welcome the road construction and its attendant development but, the truth is that, we are not happy to have lost our homes, we have only accepted the reality as part of our own little contribution to the development of our community’.
He added that, ‘For now, we don’t know what the government intends to do in terms of compensating us but, we heard that they have set up a committee to negotiate with the government, on our behalf. I hope they will represent us well’ he said.
