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Pay victims of Alaba Market Demolition- Peter Obi tells Lagos Govt
Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, urge the Lagos State Government to compensate victims of the demolished buildings at the Alaba International Market.
RNN had earlier reported that Lagos Government on June 16 began the removal of what it described as distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market located in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state.
Following the controversy that trailed the exercise, the government insisted that the exercise was a measure to prevent disaster.
Peter Obi said although some of the demolitions at the Alaba Market might be excusable, they had left many victims, mostly ordinary people who he believed were either innocently ill-informed or misguided.
In a long Twitter thread, on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor advised that “necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments, need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.”
“Recently, there have been reports of widespread government demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error. We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide, some resort to self-help by building structures that serve as homes, businesses, SMEs offices and stores. Invariably, some of these structures were either not approved or were built with the tacit collusion or approval of the local authorities.
“While some of these ongoing demolitions may be excusable, they have nonetheless, left many victims, mostly ordinary people who erred innocently or were ill-informed or misguided. Necessary corrective measures to planning or zoning violations by governments need not be punitive or unduly insensitive.
“There should always be room for compassion and humane correction in taking any remedial action. I respectfully appeal to various governmental authorities to marry the need to enforce compliance with extant regulatory regimes, with consideration for human feelings and necessary compassion.
“In Nigeria, we live in a time of extreme difficulties for citizens because of stagnated income, spiralling inflation, huge unemployment escalating socio-economic costs and high costs of living.
Recently, there have been reports of widespread government demolition of so-called ‘illegal’ structures erected by some innocent Nigerian citizens in error. We face a paradox: with a 70 million housing deficit and vast unmet housing needs nationwide,
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 27, 2023