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Worried by the spate of property demolitions along the alignment of the ongoing 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has called on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works to adopt a more inclusive approach that protects the rights of property owners.
Such an inclusive approach, according to the President of REDAN, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye, should include fair compensation and adherence to legal procedures before any demolition.
Without these measures, he said: “We fear that the rights of Nigerian citizens will continue to be trampled upon.”
At a press briefing in Lagos, Adeoye expressed concern that many Nigerians had lost their investments to the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lagos, without adequate compensation.
The continuous demolition of property, he said, has caused hardship for members of the association and Nigerians at large. Furthermore, he pointed out that the demolitions are discouraging investors from entering the Nigerian real estate market.
Adeoye called on the Federal Government to provide fair compensation to those affected. He also urged the Lagos State Government to collaborate with the federal government to ensure that property owners are adequately compensated.
“Such compensation should be paid promptly,” he said.
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Adeoye also commented on a video circulating on social media, showing the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, instructing security personnel to eject a woman protesting the demolition of her property without due compensation. He described the incident as deeply troubling.
This situation, he said, highlights the urgent need for the Minister of Works to ensure that all procedures, as stipulated by the Constitution of the Federal Government of Nigeria, are followed before any property is demolished.
“REDAN stresses that the government should be governed by law rather than individual discretion. Any action that disregards the rights of citizens sets a dangerous precedent. As we have seen in recent times, these unfair demolitions are causing hardship for those affected and threatening the livelihoods of many Nigerians, including our members,” he said.
Adeoye pointed out that the ongoing destruction of project sites and investments across Lagos has already forced many developers to seek opportunities in other states, further exacerbating the housing deficit in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
“The government must ensure that fairness and transparency prevail, as the demolitions have significant economic and social impacts. While we acknowledge the Minister’s public campaign and his understanding of the personal experience of property loss, we believe that the rule of law must be upheld, and compensations should be provided fairly to those whose properties have been affected,” Adeoye said.
The REDAN president was supported by his Vice President, South West Zone, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi; Chairperson of the Contact and Alliance Committee, Dr. Ololade Abuta; Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of REDAN, Tony Kolawole, and Aspire during the press conference.
“REDAN is calling on the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works to adopt a more inclusive approach that protects the rights of property owners, compensates fairly, and follows the legal procedures required before any demolition.”
“REDAN will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate steps to protect our members and their investments. We are committed to working with the government to address Nigeria’s housing challenges, but we also demand that the rights of property owners be respected,” he said.