Reacting strongly to the recent increase in building demolitions throughout Lagos State and other regions of Nigeria, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has urged authorities at every tier to demonstrate compassion and refrain from worsening the difficulties faced by the underprivileged.
Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to release a statement, urging both state and federal authorities to infuse a human touch into governance, especially given the challenging economic conditions facing Nigerians.
The wave of building demolitions has been ongoing for weeks in Lagos, involving the concerted efforts of the state government and the Federal Housing Authority. Areas such as Ikota, Lekki, Alaba, Ajao Estate, Abule Ado, Ladipo Market, among others, have witnessed the removal of structures deemed to violate the city’s master plan and encroach upon drainage channels.
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This extensive operation has resulted in hundreds of families being rendered homeless.
Peter Obi, expressing concern over the situation, highlighted that the demolition exercise is adding an extra layer of hardship to an already vulnerable population grappling with multi-dimensional poverty. He emphasized the need for a more considerate approach in addressing urban planning issues, calling for measures that take into account the social and economic implications on affected individuals and families.
“What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic conditions in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty,” he said.
“Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.
“The poor in our midst who are putting their meager resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the lifetime savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.
“My appeal therefore is for the respective governments involved in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try and put a human face to their actions. While we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of government must show compassion.”