The Nigeria Police Force has yet to start paying rent to the 22,500 officers living in 25 dilapidated barracks marked for demolition in Lagos.
This is despite a promise made seven months ago to provide temporary accommodation for the affected officers.
The affected barracks are: Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende; Highway Police Barracks, Ikeja; K9 Police Barracks, Keffi Street, Ikoyi; Falomo Police Barracks (A and B), Ikoyi; Bar Beach Police Barracks, Victoria Island; MOPOL 20 Barracks, Ikeja; Women Police Barracks, Obalende; MOPOL 2 Police Barracks, Keffi Street, Ikoyi; Mounted Troop, Ribadu Road, Ikoyi and Queen Barracks, Apapa.
Others are: FPRO Annex Office and Barracks, Ijora Olopa; Iponrin Police Barracks, Surulere; Adekunle Police Barracks, Yaba; Federal Highway Patrol Office, Yaba; Alausa Police Barracks, Ikeja; Mounted Troop, Ikeja; Okesuna Police Barracks, Obalende; Mccarthy Barracks, Obalende; Force Headquarters Annex, Obalende; Obalende Police Barracks, Obalende; Bourdillon Police Barracks, Ikoyi; New Staff Quarters, Ikeja; Elere Police Barracks, Agege; Onikan Officers Mess, Ikoyi and Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Milverton Street, Ikoyi.
According to a the Guardian, the barracks were condemned for failing structural integrity tests and are scheduled to be demolished to make way for new housing.
The officers were told they would receive rent payments to cover the cost of temporary accommodation for the two years it is expected to take to complete the project.
“We have not forced anyone out of the barracks. They are expected to move out between May 1 and 30. However, they will not be asked to move until their money is paid for a new accommodation,” The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said while refuting claims at the time that officers were sent packing without enough notice and provisions for alternative accommodation
However, seven months have passed since the deadline to vacate the barracks and no payments have been made.
This has caused confusion and frustration among the officers and their families, many of whom are unsure of their next move.
The NPF has attributed the delay to the project’s high cost and the logistical challenges of relocating such a large number of people.
They claim to be working on a phased approach to the relocation, but have not provided a clear timeline for when payments will begin or the project will be completed.
“It doesn’t matter the time we start. It is better for us to start late than to rush into it and subject them to unnecessary hardship. We will start. It is capital intensive, we are making arrangements and we will do this in phases.
“Their buildings have been marked, but marking does not mean they are going to demolish them, they only mark to show that the buildings are affected and distressed. So, when it’s time for us to commence, those who are going to be affected will not be evicted, they will be relocated. We did it in Abuja and it worked out, so, it will work in Lagos.
“I read in the news that some officers said they are not sure the police hierarchy will give them back the apartment after the redevelopment. We did it in Kano, which is as big as Lagos in terms of population and they were relocated, and given back the keys when it was completed,” Adejobi said.
In the meantime, the officers continue to live in poor conditions, with cracked walls, leaky roofs, and inadequate sanitation. This has raised concerns about their morale and productivity, as well as their safety and well-being.
Lawmakers have expressed their disapproval of the situation, calling for the government to auction off the barracks and use the funds to build new housing for the police. They argue that despite previous investments in renovations, the living conditions in the barracks remain unacceptable.
