Demolition: 80% of Lagos residents living in poverty, says Rhodes-Vivour

African Democratic Congress (ADC) stalwart in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has claimed that about 80 per cent of residents in the state live in poverty, blaming what he described as exclusionary development policies that fail to carry the majority of the population along.

Rhodes-Vivour made the assertion during an interview on ARISE News Channel while reacting to the recent demolition of buildings at Jakande Estate by the Lagos State Government. He condemned the exercise, describing it as unlawful, anti-poor and reflective of a development model that sidelines vulnerable residents.

According to the former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 election, his comments were based on his personal experience at the demolition site, where he alleged that officials of a state task force acted with violence and disregard for due process.

“I went to Ilasan and saw, first-hand, the brutality. In front of me, they beat this man to coma. In front of me. The so-called task force of Lagos State threatened to beat me and started beating people next to me mercilessly,” he said.

He further alleged that an engineer identified as Umaru was detained for three days and subjected to physical abuse, adding that tear gas was also fired at him during the incident.

“This is the violence that has come to define this government. When you have a lawless government that does not even follow court injunctions, that is a serious problem,” Rhodes-Vivour stated.

While acknowledging the state government’s pledge to compensate affected residents, he dismissed the proposed sum as grossly inadequate.

“They are talking about compensation of N11.2 million. N11.2 million cannot afford a two or three-bedroom apartment in that area today,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour accused the government of misapplying the Land Use Act to dispossess residents in favour of private interests rather than genuine public good.

“Section 28 of the Land Use Act allows land acquisition for overriding public interest, but what we are seeing is land being taken for private individuals who will only build more expensive housing,” he argued.

He warned that the demolition would worsen homelessness and compound the cost-of-living crisis in Lagos.

“You now have a huge number of homeless young men walking the streets without shelter. Development is constantly at the exclusion of the poor,” he said.

Rhodes-Vivour noted that many residents of Jakande Estate had lived in the area for more than two decades and possessed valid title documents.

“You are destroying their properties, inflicting violence on them, and not compensating them fairly. Where are they going to go to?” he asked.

He stressed that he was not opposed to development but insisted it must be humane, fair and inclusive.

“Cities must grow and develop, but it should not be at the detriment of the poor,” he said, drawing attention to income inequality in the state.

“To afford N11.2 million in rent, you need to be earning almost N2 million a month. How many poor Lagosians earn N2 million a month?”

He added that development pursued without justice and inclusion would continue to alienate the majority of Lagos residents.