Oluwole Demolished To Make Way For Shopping Center

Please don't force yourself to sound intelligent on this matter. I would suggest you try to educate yourself on your civic rights and duty as a citizen of the country. Go through my posts here, I no where indicated the government is a functional one at the moment as it ought to be, but the greatest problems lie with the citizenry in itself.

I still insist, who are those that are paying tax? The civil servants and who else?

It's a two-edged sword.By this action, government may have made business hard for the forgers but what about the innocent residents who have now been made homeless. I dare say business like that of Oluwole thrive only because we have a failed government.

Guys! guys!! (you know yourself) I still don't get the base of your argument. Is it that hard to know that Nigerian government has failed millions of its citizens? We don't have laws in Nigeria PERIOD. We have them written somewhere as constitution just like anyother country but Laws/constitution is nothing if nobody abide to it. You don't just wake up one morning and demolish where people make their living without notice or arranging for a new place! to me it just creating more areaboys out there! Do you know how many business premises the government demolish every year with the promise of building a mall and turn around and sell them to some rich guy? do you know how many banned goods seized by our government everyday and turn around and sell them back to us? what kind of government is that? True enough you don't sit and wait for the government to feed you or find you a job but lets be realistic here! what about simple things that everyday life need to go on like Good roads, water even if its a top per street not even everyhouse?, schools, hospital, and electricity? do citizens have to take a blame for not having these things in a country like NIGERIA? And by the way which government are we even talking about here? NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT? I think it about time to call that thing something else than government! una dey here dey talk of tax! pay am to who? a thief? in the name of government! I'll rather be robbed with a gun not with a pen!

Another set of armed robbers will soon hit the lagos streets.

praise God!!!!

What?? All footballer for Nigerian go suffer, na that place them they go make document to come play ball for Europe,  No more future kanu, 

OK joke apart, How can someone buy one of this oluwole land since we all know No shopping centre is coming out of it,  They told us the same story about Maroko, who they live their na,  No be big man,  Ko to think of it ,  me too be big man for Nigeria,  This may be good thing for all of us big man,  Na joke, 

So how do i get my own share of this good news my fashola,  if no land for me,  My friend sowore, would be after all of you people,  So make sure We see Shopping centre or I would run to be governor or senator, since the Area boys at oluwole were the ones  politician use to rigged the election,  Of late I have been think about this politics think O? since most of you Governor can not manage Nigeria well or defend the common man,   I know what Awolowo would want Lagos to look like,  I believe in him and can make it happen,   I am going to think about this thing of going into politics since all of you are not defending our people,   If Awolowo was alive he would have wanted me to run,  You politician are making me feel like I should run for office.

In as much as i don't support demolishing people's house without giving alternative, i really support this one, let's face it, people are doing illegal businesses there and some people feel there is nothing wrong with that.  What i really want is the government to please relocate those that has residential houses there not relocating those who are doing sharp practices.

On another note, the government should have waited till after the Xmas because these boys need money to spend at their villages and with no Oluwole, i guess everybody knows what they will resort to  . _{God help us in Lagos}

The picture you have placed is a subject of contention between the Federal Government and the LASG, LASG wants it demolished and the land reverting to Lagos, but the FG is fighting this. Please get yourself informed before making unsubstantiated claims.

The original owners of property in Oluwole have been compensated, so I don't know what you're talking about

and you're mentioning Yaba and Oshodiwill the government tackle each and every single problem at the same instant? CBD Lagos used to be the heart of the city, now that has shifted into V/I-Lekki axis, its time to bring back order and sanity to the heart of Lagos.

The 'masses' can trade at other locations, Downtown areas around the world are the most expensive locations to own shops, I don't see why Lagos should be different.

For the 'masses' I guess one benefit is if you go to school and finish with a good degree, you now have to worry less about some criminals in Oluwole forging a certificate for some other dude to take your place

Urban renewal is needed on Lagos Island, this is part of the painful but necessary process to achieving that.

like i said earlier Oluwole was a business place but became popular for the illegal activites.And who told you that the illegal activity has ben demolished  just because those buildings were demolished?
That is not the best measure to curb the activities of the boys and sure was not done for that.

i don't know if you are one of the people that are handling the case that you were fast at getting at me but if you are please tell your people to be fast about their decision and do something about the building that has been like that for MONTHSSSSS. do u need to be told that the activities on part of marina street is being affected just because some folish people are slow at using their FISH BRAIN.


Yes talking about masses, if government is demolishing Oluwole for shopping center then why does a lock up shop have to go for 4million naira? do you know what a lock up shop is?

Check your fingers boy!

Let me expoundThe compensation process has begun, and land/funds set aside for such a purpose. Each and every inhabitant/property owner may not have received his/her portion, but adequate provision has been made. This is not a case of unplanned movement hatched overnight without planning.

On the issue of affordable shops, you raise a very important issue. Now is this Oluwole location the best place for these low-income bracket traders to be located? Isn't there a higher value use that this land (prime land if I might add) could be put to?

In most cities, the revenues from the downtown core/CBD's are usually used to subsidize services/amenities in other locales because the companies/entities in the downtown can afford to pay more than these low income earners, thereby freeing up cash to provide some assistance to this group.

In addition, certain areas of Lagos CBD have been designated as 'street trading' locations, where some of these displaced folk can relocate to. Other initiatives like these will go a long way to ease some of the difficulties. I see no reason why as a matter of compulsion, the Oluwole traders must become the new owners of whatever shops are built on the location. A government is within its rights to zone and allocate costs according to how it deems fit, given the overall level of investments or general ambiance or clientèle within a given location.  For example, property taxes on Wall Street will definitely not be the same as what you might pay in Queens in New York.

Even in light of all the above, the truth is that change will always be resisted, even when the govt makes provisions, these cries of 'the masses' will always come up. Change is painful, Lagos CBD has been allowed to deteriorate for too long and needs renewal. The government may not get each and everything right, but they are definitely moving in the right direction.

@ tetede
what is the value of a shop in a downtown location? Why must they insist on remaining in that spot, if all the traders move to another location, their customers will follow suit and there will be no problems. I have no interest in the project beyond my desire for real change not hamstrung by wrong perceptions and a warped sense of entitlement. If I can afford a shop in Oluwole, then I will pay for it, if not move elsewhere.

Well said buluti

I am not trivialising the cries of the masses at all, I simply believe there is a cost/value to be placed on something and that needs to be taken into consideration at all times.

I do appreciate that the process may be flawed, but that should not truncate it. I repeat, there is no sacrosanct need for the traders to insist/want to remain at a given location. If the laws/planning edicts are changed, they will need to follow suit. While their needs need to be considered, that cannot override the greater good of Lagos just for the sake of a couple of traders.

There are lots of multiplier effects that a clean and decent downtown location bring - investment, big business and companies which provide knock on opportunities for these masses you speak of. Now if we allow them to only trade everywhere, how does that help in the long run?

I believe that the street trading concept will be properly deployed, and that the authorities will carry people along.

I don't know if you read my post fully, but the high costs being paid for prime locations often subsidizes the other less prosperous ones, that is how governments work to redistribute wealth. I don't see how the shanty traders will be able to afford the new shops, simply because they really didnt have shops in the first place, merely wooden contraptions or slots in old buildings way past their sell by date.

No simple traders can occupy a 20 storey building for example, but that is usually the kind of developments suited for such prime areas. That is the truth of the matter, and we cannot run away from that. I repeat, unless they are claiming this land as 'ancestral homes' there is still no firm hold they can have to this land. Redevelopment must occur to raise the profile of the area as a whole.

let me give an example, someone is willing to pay 4million in Oluwole for A SINGLE SHOP, government makes 2million off that, and is able to build 4 shops that cost 500,000 at another location which provides opportunities for 5 PEOPLE, while accomodating the 500k trader in Oluwole would benefit just one person. That is the kind of redistribution I'm talking about.

The government has decided to provide ample shopping facilities in other locations, maybe not at a price wholly affordable to these folk and that I admit is lackingbut a government MUST prioritize and carry out its projects accordingly. Many of these issues you raise are teething problems that can be settled and improved upon as part of the 'process' you speak of

@Sweet T.

What is wrong with you? You must be a nuisance wherever you are. Why would you suggest that Oluwole is only Igbos (not Ibo)? Haba, that is not fair. is Oluwole not lagos again in which Yorubas claim to be their land? is Oluwole not in lagos Island again ooo. If it were in onitsha, i for understand. this Nigerian attitude of blaming the Igbos of all problems in very unbecoming. in Niger Delta they claim igbos are the militants. Just the way some fools started insinuating that Obasanjo was born to an Igbo man so I guess they'll soon claim that the criminals/militants (Asari) are also Igbos.

@EmekaNaija

Nna, whatever. Everybody knows that Oluwole was being ran by the ibo boys. Nobody is blaming ibos for anything but you guys needs to slow down when it comes to chasing money.

When a fool talks we all know, why una the weste space for this idiot that don't know his origin. Igbos dey chase money Yorubas dey chase sand.

Every disappointment is a blessing, If the house of the king gets burnt; a better structure is put in place (ile oba t'ojo ewa lo busi)

Fool go and watch 60 minutes australia and let us know the tribe in the video. Its in You-tube.