BY Samad Uthman
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has demolished the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) complex located at the computer village in Ikeja, Lagos.
Witnesses said four bulldozers manned by armed police officers were at the site of the demolition on Sunday morning.
They added that the exercise was completed before 9 a.m.
TheCable gathered that the complex housed 300 shops with over 1,000 traders.
HOW IT STARTED
The news about the demolition of the complex came to public attention on December 20 when the traders protested against the plan to carry out the exercise by the police.
On Friday, the Lagos task force served a 24-hour quit notice on all the traders in the complex.
This led to another form of protest as commercial activities at the complex were paralysed.
The traders, led by their leaders, displayed a banner with the court injunction secured by them, preventing the demolition.
POLICE: DEMOLITION NEEDED FOR RECONSTRUCTION
However, in a statement on Saturday night, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer (PPRO), said the demolition was to enable the commencement of construction of a modern shopping complex on the same plot.
Adejobi said the decision to reconstruct the complex is based on the advice of experts which revealed that the structure constitutes a looming environmental hazard.
“The decision to demolish and reconstruct is predicated on the fact that professional opinion indicated that the structure as it is, constitutes a looming environmental hazard, as the site is prone to flood and may collapse,” the statement reads.
“There is also the need for immediate landscaping and reconstruction. The planned demolition and reconstruction will be in phases and is in good faith for the best interest of all concerned.
“All necessary legal requirements have been duly met. The current occupants of the complex have been given more-than-enough notice of the demolition to enable them to evacuate from the facility in good time.
“Necessary steps have been taken to temporarily accommodate them within the same complex, while the reconstruction lasts.
“Equally, the relevant Lagos State Government agency, according to its expert advice, has been approached, required help sought, and necessary approvals for demolition obtained.”
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