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Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has condemned the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration over the ongoing demolitions in Oworonshoki, describing the exercise as “lawless, unplanned, and lacking empathy.”
Rhodes-Vivour accused the state government of flouting existing court orders restraining the demolition, alleging that the action reflects a consistent disregard for the rights of low-income residents in favour of elite property developers and investors.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, the former governorship hopeful lamented that the demolitions had displaced long-time residents, many of whom were ejected at night without proper notice or consultation.
“There is absolute lawlessness because there’s a judgment in place. If the state expects citizens to obey the law, it must also show that it is subject to that same law,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He criticised the demolition process as a “charade,” arguing that the so-called compensation exercise was selective and poorly managed.
“What we see is not a coordinated or humane process. Only a few people have been compensated, while the majority remain stranded without support,” he alleged.
Rhodes-Vivour stressed that genuine urban renewal should begin with consultations at the local government level, ensuring affected residents are properly engaged, relocated, and compensated before any demolition takes place.
“If there was a real plan, it would start with community engagement. People should know where they’re being moved to, and payments should come before demolitions, not after,” he said.
He also faulted what he described as a persistent class bias in Lagos’ urban development policies, where poor communities are displaced to make way for luxury housing projects.
“We cannot keep pushing people out for the sake of development,” he said. “Where is the plan to house those who power the city’s economy but can’t afford N150 million apartments?”
Rhodes-Vivour urged the state government to embrace inclusive development by investing in social housing initiatives that cater to all income levels, arguing that low-cost housing can still be built with quality and dignity.
“Nobody is opposed to progress, but development should not come at the expense of the poor. There can be beauty in affordable housing if there’s genuine intent,” he added.
He also described the Oworonshoki demolition as part of “anti-poor policies” that punish the vulnerable while sparing those responsible for regulatory failures.
“When a building goes up illegally, government agencies that allowed it to reach the roof level should also be held accountable,” he said. “Why must ordinary citizens always pay the price for government incompetence?”
Rhodes-Vivour also dismissed claims of fair compensation, noting that the amounts offered could not sustain displaced families in Lagos’ expensive rental market.
“When you offer someone N2 million or N3 million, that barely covers rent for a year,” he said. “After paying agents and other costs, what happens next?”
He proposed that part of the revenue generated from luxury property developments be reinvested into affordable housing projects to ensure a more balanced and inclusive city.
“Funds from high-end real estate should be used to develop low-cost housing,” he said. “That’s how you take care of both the rich and the people who keep the city running,” he said.
Lagos demolitions: Rhodes-Vivour slams Sanwo-Olu Government as lawless, anti-poor
