A woman in Lagos is heartbroken after getting a notice that her new home will be torn down.
A video of her crying has been shared widely online. She said she and her husband bought the house just two months ago, while the demolition notice is dated May 7, 2024.
In the video, she shared her pain: “All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything… If you’re in Lagos, you’ll know how much property in Eti Osa costs. Each time my son sees me crying, he will always ask me why I am crying. How do I explain this to our son? What do I tell my children? I’m trying so hard to be strong, but this is very painful. I don’t wish for anybody to work so hard and face something like this. I don’t.”
Last week, people living in Mende Estate Villa in the Maryland area also spoke out against the government’s demolitions.
The Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the government gave demolition notices to Mende Villa Estate residents in 2021 and 2023.
He also mentioned that those who build illegally might have to pay for the demolition of their homes.
