Group dismisses ethnic bias, says 80% of illegal structures demolished in Lagos owned by Yoruba

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The South-West Professional Forum (SOWPROF) has dismissed insinuations that the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in Lagos is targeted at a particular ethnic group.

The group said the real fact is that majority of illegal structures demolished in Lagos are actually owned by Yoruba people.

A statement by the the SOWPROF, signed by its Assistant General Secretary, Lateef Kayode, in Ado-Ekiti, said insinuations of ethnic bias about the demolition was not true.

It said attempts by a few people to ethnicise the environmental issue is self-serving, explaining that, “We have done diligent checks. We have a compilation of all the victims of the demolition in Lagos. We have done extensive compilation of the victims and the issues involved. Some 80 per cent of the victims of the demolished buildings are from the South-West region.”

The group said it is unfortunate that an attempt by the Lagos State Government to deal with serious environmental hazards that have led to flooding, deaths and that even threaten the future of the people of the state is being ethnicised.

Consequently, the group urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, not to be deterred by parochial critiques introducing ethnic politics into a purely environmental issue.

SOWPROF said it started the compilation of names of the landlords five months ago and that the names of owners of the demolished buildings are available for the public, adding that demolition of illegal buildings is a nationwide issue.

“It takes place in all the South-East, North-West, North-East and South-South. It has happened in Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Kaduna, Ilorin, Makurdi and in many cities across the country.

“It is unfortunate that some people are exploring the fragile political situation in the country to cause disaffection using the demolition of illegal buildings in Lagos State as a pun in the game,” it stated.

SOWPROF said property owners should ensure they do not invest in land and property that infringe on existing environmental laws.