News

Demolition: Lagos Residents Seek Refuge In Churches As Weeping Persists

Published

3 years ago

August 2, 2023

Editor

The recent demolition in the Oluwaseyi Street of Oworoshoki, Lagos state, has left residents homeless, forcing them to seek shelter in churches and uncompleted buildings. The agents of the Lagos State Government began demolishing houses and burning others in the area last week.

Vanguard gathered that during the demolition, certain task force members, along with some police officers, allegedly received 1000 Naira from the affected Oworoshoki residents to facilitate the evacuation of their properties before the demolition.

Speaking to one of the affected residents, Esther, who is 28 years old and was born and raised here, says, “Since I’ve been living here, we were never given any notice about this sudden evacuation. It has left us homeless, and now we have to find a place to sleep every night.

“We are already searching for apartments to rent, but the demolition has been tough on us. It has particularly affected my aged mother, and as a pregnant woman, I am finding it challenging to cope with the situation.”

Further investigation, was discovered that residents had to pay varying amounts of money to prevent the Lagos state task force from demolishing buildings and property. According to some victims interviewed by Vanguard, “we paid N2000 and others paid 10,000 Naira to buy time to evacuate our properties. Unfortunately, those who couldn’t afford to pay had their buildings demolished, along with their belongings”

A mother of two, who spoke to Vanguard, revealed that she and her children are currently sleeping in a church while her husband stays at his friend’s place. She expressed her sadness, saying, “We’ve been living here for less than a year. My husband bought the land from Omonile late last year, but it’s devastating that our properties were among those demolished.”

Omotayo Ogunsiji, a septuagenarian and retired civil servant who has lived in the area for 28 years, shared his ordeal with Vanguard.

He expressed his initial happiness when he heard about the plan to demolish buildings with plank structures that were situated 100 meters away from the water.

However, he explained that his own house was a blocked building and located far from the water, so he wasn’t concerned. In 1995, before his retirement, he purchased this half plot from Omonile for N9,000.

“I have been living here for 28 years since 1995, my house was blocked building, and was very far from the water, so I was not bothered. I bought this half-plot from Omonile in the year 1995 before I retired and it cost me N9,000.

“We didn’t receive any notification beforehand. What happened was they provided a notification indicating that buildings within 100 meters of the water needed to be demolished. They marked the area for demolition from the start, but it was surprising when they suddenly came to my block and demolished it.

“If you don’t remove your properties, they’ll break them and set them ablaze. They approached me, saying they wanted to set fire to my house. I agreed, but I pleaded with them, giving them N1000 to allow me time to evacuate my belongings.”

Upon contacting the Public Relations officer of the Lagos State Taskforce, Mr Raheem, he says “Notice was given to them ahead of time, the reason for the demolition, was because the area was denizens of criminals who rob commuters of their item at the third mainland bridge.

“Most times these miscreants rob passengers on the ferry and run into the area to avoid police, and the area was not government authorized, very soon, you will see a reduction in traffic robbery on the third mainland bridge because of this demolition”

Dismissing the claims of residents paying money to task force officials for property evacuation before demolition, Raheem stated, “These are mere fallacies; the Chairman of the task force was present during the demolition, and such incidents couldn’t have occurred.”
VANGUARD

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.