An Entrepreneur and Real Estate agent named Duru Bond has responded to the outcry of popular music artist Yemi Alade on demolishing buildings in the Mende Area of Maryland by the Lagos State government.
Bond shared his opinion via his personal Instagram page while replying to Yemi Alade’s outcry on the demolition.
The music artist stated that it didn’t make sense for people who have invested millions of naira and dollars into real estate to have their properties demolished within two hours’ notice.
Subsequently, the Lagos State Commissioner on Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an interview on ARISE TV, revealed that the affected structures encroached on canals and drainage in the area.
Wahab further revealed that the government issued the residents of Mende Villa Estate two demolition notices in 2021 and 2023.
The commissioner’s clarification came on the heels of allegations made by a property developer in Mende Villa, who claimed the proper notice was not given before the commencement of the demolition exercise.
According to the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Lagos State Governor Ajerunmobi, ex-MILAD of Lagos, Brig. Gen. Mobolaji Johnson gazetted the Ogudu-Mende-Odo Iya Alaro right-of-way in 1974, clearly defining the alignment of canals and drainage passages.
However, over the years, developers and property owners overshot the areas marked for physical development and infringed on the approved alignment for road infrastructure development, drainage, and canals.
The real estate agent now schooling Yemi Alade said,” Hi, Yemi Alade; I understand your concerns and grievances in this video. However, I would like to let you know that no one whose building has been demolished didn’t contravene a particular land or building regulation.
“Many people do not understand that Lagos is a very sophisticated state regarding land regulations. Every square meter of this state has been marked for certain use and purpose with regulations guiding rules across boards.”
“The next question you will ask me is why the government didn’t make a move when they were building these houses and waited till they were done before demolishing; just like I said earlier, there is nobody whose house contravened the laws that didn’t get a notice.”
Bond stated that the affected people either ignored the notice or did not know because they bought from a developer and the developer contravened.
He said the Lagos State Government was at fault for not communicating these options well to the landowners.
