The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), has begun payment of compensation to verified residents of the Oworonshoki community in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, whose homes were demolished in recent clearance operations.
The event, which commenced on Thursday, October 23, at the palace of the traditional ruler of Oworonshoki, drew community leaders, officials from LASURA, representatives of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and civil society groups.
Speaking on Friday at a press conference, the Director-General of LASURA, Mr Oladimeji Animashaun, who supervised the exercise, explained that a total of 80 beneficiaries had been identified and compensated between Thursday and Friday, saying it was proof that what Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised had been fulfilled.
“We started the payment of compensation yesterday, and several residents have received their cheques.
“The total number of people being compensated is 80. This is proof that what Mr Governor promised has been fulfilled,” the LASURA boss said.
Animashaun thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support, as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Abiodun Babatunde, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, Mr Gbolahan Oki, for their coordination in ensuring that government policies were effectively implemented.
The LASURA boss dismissed allegations that affected residents were not informed before the demolition, maintaining that the area had been declared a regeneration zone over five years ago.
According to him, government does not just move into an area without due notice, saying that many of the affected residents had been aware for years that their community fell under a regeneration plan.
“Government does not just move into an area without due notice. Many of these residents have been aware for years that their community falls under a regeneration plan.
“Some people denied knowledge, but due process was followed,” he said.
Speaking further, Animashaun explained that compensation amounts varied depending on property type, saying that the sums ranged between N3 million and N5 million, with smaller amounts for makeshift structures such as kiosks and shanties.
“Someone with a bungalow cannot get the same compensation as someone with a storey building. The payments were fair, and you could see smiles on people’s faces as they received their cheques,” he said.
On the government’s long-term plan for the regenerated land, the LASURA boss said the intention was to create a well-planned, modern community with improved living conditions.
According to him, urban regeneration is about replacing unhealthy, unsafe environments with planned communities that meet modern standards, saying that was the goal the Sanwo-Olu administration was committed to achieving in Oworonshoki.
Also speaking, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Kosofe Constituency I, Hon. Okanlawon Sanni, who was also present at the exercise, described the payment as a practical demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s compassion and commitment to urban renewal with a human face.
According to the lawmaker, the regeneration project marks a major step towards transforming Oworonshoki into a modern, liveable community, noting that what was being witnessed at the event was not just about demolitions but also about development with dignity.
“What we are witnessing today is not just about demolitions; it is about development with dignity.
“The affected residents are being duly compensated in line with the Governor’s assurance that no one will suffer unjustly in the process of renewing Lagos,” he said.
He commended LASURA for ensuring that the process was transparent and humane, adding that the state government’s intention was to give Oworonshoki a new lease of life through improved housing, better drainage systems, potable water, and accessible roads.
Sanni, however, appealed to the affected residents to remain calm and cooperative, assuring them that the government’s action was in the public interest.
“I understand the emotions involved, but Lagos is growing, and we must plan our space responsibly. The ultimate goal is to make Oworonshoki a place where families can live in safety and comfort,” he said.
The residents, including Chioma Idoko and Taiwo Solola, thanked the Lagos State Government, expressing satisfaction with the compensation received, as they said it was better than nothing.
