₦airaland Forum

For the people of Mile 12 Central in Mile 12 Area of Ikosi Isheri LCDA, Lagos, the future is bleak. And this is because their present is being demolished right before their eyes.

In Nigeria and several parts of the world, houses are more like peace of mind and insurance, especially for the landlords. This is because the landlords and property owners see them as potential income earners as well as place of abode, when they retire from active working life and waiting to breathe their last. It is also why sudden demolition of such properties attracts lots of emotions, and culminates in lots of negative implications such as disillusionment, stroke and death

At the last count, residents of the community, tucked behind the popular Mile 12 food market, led by the LCDA Chairman, Joshua Tunde Ogundele, say over 200 houses in their community have been demolished by agents of the Lagos State government, rendering them homeless and hopeless. Specifically, they finger LASBCA, the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

According to Ogundele, it all started on the morning of December 15, 2025.

“The illegal demolition of our homes started by 8.30am on December 15 (2025). They just came with their bulldozers, touts, armed policemen; without any prior notice, and by the time they left that day, over 200 houses had been pulled down –homes, hospitals, schools, mosques and churches.”

For this reason, Ogundele and his people have staged several peaceful protests – to the Lagos State House of Assembly (December 17 2025); demonstration rally in their community (December 22) where they invited the media to witness their predicament, and written several petitions and overtures to the powers that be. But all that did not deter them, as they claimed the bulldozers have repeatedly.

Curiously, the people claimed they are in the dark as to why the Lagos State government could suddenly wake up and start demolishing their homes

And this was why they came out for another peaceful protest last Monday March 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly. According to their chairman, they would not cease making their case “until the Lagos State government steps in, stops the demolition and even pays compensations for the houses already demolished; and give us rest of mind in terms of a written letter, giving us assurance that in the future, such a thing will not happen.”

On this day, the scores of residents stationed peacefully at the entrance to the House of Assembly, sang appeal song all day, and carried banners with inscriptions such as: “SANWO-OLU STOP THE DEMOITION NOW!… NO TO FORCEFUL EVICTION… and MILE 12 RESIDENTS: WE EED YOUR HELP, PLEASE STOP THE DEMOITION. OUR HOMES, OUR RIGHTS.

Ogundele speaks again: “We are here to appeal to our honourable members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. We have also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and appealing to him again, to step in and stop the demolition of our houses. The demolitions in our community have continued despite our appeals; and they have given us absolutely no reason. We have our C of Os, we have building permits; and let me shock you, two commissioners that served under former Lagos State governor, the Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande have their houses there – talking about the Late Funsho Williams and Commissioner Benson; he’s still alive. If these place was acquired or not suitable for building houses, we’re sure these people who worked with the government would have known. We also have a layout; so we cannot fathom why they are demolishing our houses.”

Apart from rendering them homeless, Ogundele said the implications have been dire.

“As we speak, many have died. Just a few days ago, one of our imams died, because his house was also demolished. He died of hypertension. We also have many of our Hausa neighbours who died in transit, while relocating to their hometown because their homes in Lagos were demolished and they had nowhere to turn. The last time they came, they even demolished one of the three hospitals in the community. As we speak, they have visited our community with their bulldozers four times: December 15
December17, January 9 and February 13; and each time, they left us in deep sorrow.

Accuses Ikosi-Isheri LCDA chair of complicity

“On December 17, precisely while we were demonstrating at the House of Assembly, they sneaked into our community and continued. The irony is that while we were meeting with the chairman for Lands and Planning in person of Sylvester Ogunkelu, Member representing Epe Constituency 2, and he was assuring us there would be no more demolition, they sneaked in and continued the demolition. They demolished the hospital against his promise. We later realised that it was our LCDA Chairman, Princess Samiat Bola Bada has a hand in it, that she gave them the order to demolish our homes.”

Unfortunately, the lawmakers were not on ground to receive them this Monday, as they were said to have all gone for the State All Progressives Congress (APC) congress holding that day. They were received by Sergeants at Arms led by one Olayinka, who later took Ogundele in to submit the reminder letter.

Another female resident, Fagbemi Anuoluwapo corroborate all that the CDA chairman said, stressing that “they gave us just one hour to pack our things. Some of us came out pleading with them almost naked, yet they showed no mercy. As we speak, the number of deaths on account of these demolitions is uncountable. If you come to our community, it’s like a war zone; yet there is no war. We are peaceful people.”

I have no hand in their predicament – LCDA chair, Bada

However, the chairman, Ikosi Isheri LCDA, Princess Samiat Bada, speaking with The Nation on phone vehemently denied any involvement in the demolitions, when she pointedly asked this reporter: “You are a journalist, from your knowledge, can an LCDA chairman carry out such a demolition? How possible is it. They may have mentioned my name, but the truth is that the State Government is the owner of their land. The state government knows their property, and the demolition is going on because they now want to take possession of their property.”

Ironfaceman:
Truth be told lagos is over crowded. Lagos State is suffering from over crowding. People are now defecating on the road, people are now opening shops on the road. People are building houses on water ways. It's unfortunate

If the Lagos State Government does not introduce crowd control measure lagos state will implode.

Ironfaceman:
Truth be told lagos is over crowded. Lagos State is suffering from over crowding. People are now defecating on the road, people are now opening shops on the road. People are building houses on water ways. It's unfortunate

If the Lagos State Government does not introduce crowd control measure lagos state will implode.

esnbrutality:
Support DISSOLUTION of NIGERIA so you can enjoy Lagos alone.

Ironfaceman:
Say the truth for once our governors are 40% to blame for the suffering. Money the state need to build up these rogues invest in their children.

Even with dissolution a corrupt person is still a corrupt person.

esnbrutality:
Let the dissolution take place first and let each country deal with their problems. Atleast tribalism won't factor into Governance and development.

Each country will know how to handle themselves.

Simple.

Ironfaceman:
Hmm. That's called sweeping the dirt under the carpet. Take a look at these characters.

Okezie ikpeazu
Willy obiano
Orji kalu
Theodore orji
David umahi

They all got big federal allocation but what did they do with it. There children are in America living the American dream.

Ironfaceman:
Truth be told lagos is over crowded. Lagos State is suffering from over crowding. People are now defecating on the road, people are now opening shops on the road. People are building houses on water ways. It's unfortunate

If the Lagos State Government does not introduce crowd control measure lagos state will implode.

njokuuche77:
Situations like this are painful to watch. But it also reminds everyone that in Lagos, buying property without proper verification can be a costly mistake. Before committing your life savings, always confirm the status of the land with the appropriate authorities. Due diligence can be the difference between security and sudden loss.

Ironfaceman:
Truth be told lagos is over crowded. Lagos State is suffering from over crowding. People are now defecating on the road, people are now opening shops on the road. People are building houses on water ways. It's unfortunate

If the Lagos State Government does not introduce crowd control measure lagos state will implode.

Macphenson:
Did you not see people saying they have C of O issued by Lagos State Government in that area? Did you not read that two former top government functionaries built houses in that area? If you think these demolitions are as a result of people not doing what is right, then you are sorely and pathetically mistaken.
Lagos State Government is something else when it comes to Land grabbing.

wunmi590:
Thats because the other state governors, are so dull to the extent of not having any ideal to develop their own state..

People run to Lagos because thats the only state that has the amenities they want..

I'm from Lagos state, if better job opportunities comes from other state that is less crowded I will move, my saving grace is because I've 4 family house from both parent is what makes life so easy for me.

I just work, and travel to Ibadan every weekend where my wife works in one of the state ministry..

Ironfaceman:
Truth be told lagos is over crowded. Lagos State is suffering from over crowding. People are now defecating on the road, people are now opening shops on the road. People are building houses on water ways. It's unfortunate

If the Lagos State Government does not introduce crowd control measure lagos state will implode.

Harnny:
Behind mile12 market?. No sane person can walk past that place after 9pm and walk out complete. The whole area is a shanty of drug dealers and touts of different origins. Who lives in that type of environment?. Is this not the place they call gengere or something like that. This is almost synonymous to people protesting over the clear out of Makoto.

tobex99:
Good you really know mile 12. and is that the place they first destroy on December 15th. is Ayisatu street and Maidan street part of gengere . i guess you are part of people collecting money from politicians. You read the article, will funsho williams pay some one in the government ministry to get a land their. These are street that have good road network. Do you even know what they call residential area and shanty area.... Gengere is shanty area and Ayisatu and Maidan is a residential area. By their words we shall know them. We believe one day God judgement will be on people using political power on good citizens of lagos state