It was a mild drama as property agent (name withheld) invaded No. 10 Oredola close in Bariga local development Area of the state in the early morning of Saturday 15th June 2019 to forcefully evict occupants of the building.
According to an eyewitness account, the building in question was said to have been sold a few months ago by the owner while tenants have equally been informed with six months quit notice to vacate the building for demolition. Though, many of them were reported to have been searching for space since they have been told to vacate the building.
“But the most agonising part of it is that none of them has been able to secure a place till the stipulated date with the agent insisting on eviction and go ahead with the planned demolition”. stressed the witness
He continues “It’s so sad that many of them could not get what they want before the time elapses owing to house scarcity in the recent time. Some are even pleading for more time for them to sort out things so that can move their thing without a problem”. he noted
Meanwhile, the property agent had employed the service of the ‘demolishers’ who were already on the ground to carry out the demolition exercise. It took the efforts of Nigeria Police team who were invited by one of the tenants to stop the agent from carrying out the planned eviction and demolition.
Fortunately and unfortunately for the tenants, the agent was armed with court injunction to do as acted while the Police team one of them invited who could not anything having being shown the paper from the court became the negotiators who pacified the agent to give them more time to save the victims from pain and agony to comes forceful eviction.
Some of the tenants were said to have returned home from the Police station where they have gone to settle the issue with the choice of just a week ultimatum to vacate the building.
The incident which attracted passerby and some other good spirited Nigerians who waded in to ensure the victims get a soft landing lasted for about five hours before the imbroglio could be put under control.
It’s however, a known fact that the issue of rent and property in Somolu/Bariga and Lagos at large in the last few years is such that is becoming unbearable, disturbing and disgusting as there’s no cogent law that controls rent of properties on either monthly or annual basis which gives the owners and property agents undue advantage leaving their victims in a helpless situation.
Meanwhile, the rate at which houses are being sold around Somolu/Bariga axis is quite worrisome which oftentimes throw the occupants into unending pain and agony. Even though, one cannot question why owners of such properties choose to dispose of their properties
This is where government both at the federal state level must come in to address the unending rise of rent in Lagos metropolis which if not control could one way or the other affect the living standard of the people.
