80% Of Illegal Structures Demolished In Lagos Owned By Yoruba — Professional Forum South-West (SOWPROF)

Yorubas Make Up 80% of Home Demolition Victims

According to the South-West Professional Forum (SOWPROF), Yoruba people are the owners of the bulk of the unlawful buildings that have been demolished in Lagos.

In a statement released to media in Ado-Ekiti yesterday and signed by its Assistant General Secretary, Lateef Kayode, the SOWPROF refuted suggestions that the demolition was directed towards any specific group.

The professional organization claimed it is self-serving for a few individuals to try to ethnicize the environmental issue.

“We have done diligent checks. We have a compilation of all the victims of the demolition in Lagos. We have done extensive compilation of the victims and the issues involved. Some 80 per cent of the victims of the demolished buildings are from the South-West region.”

The group expressed regret that ethnic politics are being included into the Lagos State Government's efforts to address the severe environmental risks that have resulted in floods. deaths, and can even pose a threat to the state's population's future.

It consequently pleaded with Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, not to be discouraged by local criticisms that turn an environmental issue into an ethnic political one.

The names of the owners of the demolished structures are publicly accessible, according to SOWPROF, which also stated that the demolition of unlawful constructions is a national problem. The compilation of landlords' names began five months ago.

“It takes place in all the South-East, North-West, North-East and South-South. It has happened in Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Kaduna, Ilorin, Makurdi and in many cities across the country.

“It is unfortunate that some people are exploring the fragile political situation in the country to cause disaffection using the demolition of illegal buildings in Lagos State as a pun in the game.”