Shops, Houses Give Way For Roads In Ajegunle

By Debo Adejayan

Hundreds of shops and houses have been demolished in Ajegunle, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Lagos to give way for the expansion of roads in the area.

P.M.News investigations revealed that some of the roadside shops, stalls and home extentions beyond the limit stipulated in the building law, were demolished by bulldozers belonging to the state government.

Areas mostly affected include: Iyalode, Ayetoro and Alayabiagba.

Further investigation revealed that construction has started on most of the roads and residents are cooperating with the construction workers to give the area the needed facelift.

Some landlords whose houses were partially destroyed and owners of demolished shops expressed satisfaction with what was going on, saying they harbour no ill fellings towards the state government.

They agreed that the sacrifice was necessary to ensure expansion of access roads in the area.

One of the residents, Mrs. Risikat Yetunde Shittu, who resides at 70, Iyabode Street, said the demolition will give the area a new look which the people have been craving for.

Another resident, Jenkins Kayode Onafowokan, explained that the exercise would beautify the area. “There is no way we can have good roads in this area without demolition of houses and illegal shops. People just have to bear the pains,” he said.

Chief Rilwan Folami, Otun Balogun of Ajegunle, whose building was partially pulled down to widen the road in the area explained that the sacrifice was necessary to provide access roads for residents.

According to him, the importance of an access road far outweighs the pains of losing a part of his building.

“I am not complaining. At least, one can drive smoothly to the front of his house now, instead of what obtained before when residents were forced to park their vehicles some metres away from their houses and trek home,” Chief Folarin told P.M.News.

Mr. Jerry Babatunde, a businessman in the area likened the exercise to that of the tribal marks which used to bring a lot of pains when being made but later make the bearers beautiful after it had healed.

Miss Victoria Adebisi, another resident, said the demolition was good, in as much as it was meant to provide access roads for the residents.

She, however, advised the government to clear the debris of the demolished structures from the roads and finish the construction in good time to reduce the current hardship faced by the people.