Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step in and stop the ongoing demolition of homes and offices belonging to Igbo residents in Lagos State.
Speaking during a project-commissioning event in Aba, Abia State, Kalu described the demolitions as a source of deep pain. “The destruction and demolition of the houses and offices of our brothers in Lagos makes our hearts bleed,” he said. He urged Tinubu to persuade the Lagos State government to allow affected owners time to regularise their property documents instead of resorting immediately to demolition.
Kalu noted that many property owners may not yet have the required permits, but stressed that due process should be followed. He asked: “Allow them to rectify their documents instead of destruction. Let them come into the room, find a way … it bleeds our hearts that houses are being destroyed in these hard times.”
The Lagos State government has recently demolished plazas at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo Local Government Area, prompting public outcry. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also weighed in, alleging that some affected structures had valid approvals and that the demolitions reflected impunity.
Meanwhile, Lagos state officials responded that the demolished buildings lacked valid planning permits despite earlier amnesty periods granted for owners to regularise. They claimed some owners resisted inspections or remediation efforts.
