Landmark Beach demolition: Anxiety plagues property owners in Lagos State
Lagos State is notoriously known for people building structures illegally which has led to the government demolishing many buildings ranging from personal houses to shops and other places for businesses. Many places in Lagos have buildings that encroach to the road and places set aside for government projects.
On Friday, 8th of March 2024, many residents of Hopeville Estate, located in the Sangotedo area of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos were left homeless as task force from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA) invaded the estate with two bulldozers leaving the estate in ruins. When quizzed about the reason for the demolition, the LABSCA team cited non- approval of building plans as the reason.
The Lekki demotion last year was also a thing of surprise as billions of dollars worth of houses were destroyed for being built on drainage channels.
Currently a $200 million resort centre, Landmark beach is at risk of being demolished as the Lagos state Government issued a notice of demolition stating that it obstructs an intended 700 kilometer route that connects Lagos to Calabar, a port city that connects to Cameroon. LandMark resort is reported to house over 80 businesses and provides more than 4,000 direct jobs. It also generates over 2 billion naira ($1.5 million) in annual tax revenue and was visited by about a million local and foreign visitors last year according to the CEO.
Paul Onwuanibe said he was given a 7-day ultimatum to vacate the premises which was contained in a letter to the proprietor of Landmark Beach Resort, Paul Onwuanibe, dated March 19, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director (Development Matters Department) Tpl Shomolu O., on behalf of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. Beach Resort, Kids and Bay Arena, Members Area, Lagos Beach Club fall within the Right of Way of the proposed road project by 50 meters. The government had earlier informed the resort owner following publications on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March, 2024, in two national newspapers, The Nation and The PUNCH .
The CEO said he purchased the land in 2007 before the coastal highway plans were formulated. According to him, foreign and local investors are threatening to pull out their investments, although he expressed that he is already in a dialogue with different levels of government to re-route the road to its original location through the undeveloped median of Water Corporation. There is no concise agreement on the part of the government to re-route the road or go on with the demolition and offer any form of compensation.
This sudden development has sent shock waves through the hearts of Nigerians as many fear what their fate would be should the government decide to initiate a new project around their property.
The first issue many people encounter is having to source for an accomodation impromptu to move your belongings in the house then battling to ensure that they are compensated by the government. This is a major issue as oftentimes, stories have surfaced over the news of people complaining that their properties were destroyed by the government and nothing was given to them as compensation or the compensation is peanuts compared to the building that was destroyed.
With this in view, our reporter interviewed property owners in Lagos on the issue of building demolition in Lagos state. Mr Olakunle a bar owner said, “if after doing Survey through the surveyor’s office and a land is approved as it does not affect state projects, then later the Government say that they have a project to do that will affect my property, Is it that the office of the Surveyor does not work together with the Government again, or who should I hold responsible?”
Mr Lawal, who is a land owner pointed out that many things are wrong in Lagos that relate to Land and Property acquisition. He mentioned that the incessant payment to “Omo Onile” after purchasing Land is uncalled for. In his statement, be noted that all these processes sometimes discourage people from purchasing properties.
The state of Lagos as it relates to owning properties in Lagos brings to bear so many questions.which have not been answered. The Surveyor and the Land developers are supposed to work together to ensure that approved lands will in no distant future have issues with demolition because a clear plan should be made on areas that are strictly residential and areas that are not.
It is also appalling as to how the land development agency will allow illegally built structures to get to the point of it being an entire estate and houses residents before they realise that no building should be erected there.
If possible, the government should map out a clear design regarding how they allocate areas of residence in Lagos and also put physical banners in areas that are for government projects or dangerous to live. This will help warn potential buyers, thereby controlling the rate of demolition because anyone who strongly faults these directives has no one to blame and no one will intervene when the demolition is carried out.
