Residents of Flats Eight-in-One, a section of the Abraham Adesanya Estate in Ajah, Lagos, are living on borrowed time, going by a seven-day eviction notice issued to them which expired on Thursday May 7.
They are now to pay N572,000 per year to the estate’s residents association to continue to live there undisturbed or risk surprised ejection.
Abraham Adesanya Estate is the property of the Lagos State government. A section of it (bungalows) has been properly leased to occupants. Flats Eight-in-One (comprising storey buildings) are abandoned due to structural defects.
It was learnt that the Ministry of Housing has long marked it for demolition.
Notwithstanding, the former leadership of the estate’s residents association, led by A. Akamu, allegedly allocated it to people with pressing accommodation challenges until the government is ready for the demolition.
In December last year, a new leadership led by Olumide Jacob emerged via the votes of residents, including those living in Flats Eight-in One.
The leadership promised to renovate the estate and give it a new lease of life.
But signs of trouble emerged early last month when the new executive sidelined Transworld Security (which provides security services for the estate), despite owing the firm for three months.
The executive brought in its own security operatives. Many residents, who pleaded not to be named for fear of victimisation, alleged that the new security operatives intimidate them.
The residents said the executive claimed that Alausa (Lagos State government) instructed it to renovate the homes and re-allocate them to new occupants.
They alleged that the executive asked the residents to pay N573,000 including estate maintenance or risk embarrassing eviction.
Attempts to get comments of the Ministry of Housing, were not successful.
TheNiche visited the office in Alausa on Wednesday, May 6 but was told by the front desk officer that all the officials had gone for site inspection.
When one of the officials, whose name was given simply as Olumide, was reached on the telephone, he said he could not speak on behalf of the ministry.
He also declined to provide details of the contacts who could speak on the matter.
