We do not accept instructions from property owners — LASBCA The narrow street of Ijero Street in Ebute-Meta (West), located in the Lagos Ma...
We do not accept instructions from property owners — LASBCA
The narrow street of Ijero Street in Ebute-Meta (West), located in the Lagos Mainland region of Lagos State, has recently turned into a scene of an escalating urban conflict, where low-income renters are facing off against influential property owners and officials from the state's construction regulatory body, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
At the center of the conflict is a small three-bedroom apartment and a seven-room bungalow situated on 24 Ijero Street, where residents claim they are being intimidated and now live in fear of becoming homeless following what they call an illegal eviction by LASBCA and an agent of the new property owner.
Interestingly, the event on Ijero Street is not unique. This has been the case for numerous residents in Lagos recently.
However, landlords across the state also mention that they are struggling to remove tenants. Temitope, during a conversation with Saturday Tribune, stated that he has been attempting to evict a difficult tenant from his property near Iyana Ipaja since last year. He is especially frustrated because the tenant, in addition to failing to pay rent, has also not maintained the property properly.
"There was one who left without me knowing, having stayed in the property for almost a year without paying the rent. Another one has been promising to pay since last year, but he still hasn't. If I choose to get my money back through any legal but unusual methods, he would be the first to protest loudly," Temitope said.
In response to the concerning issue of aggressive evictions by unscrupulous landlords, the Lagos State government has introduced the Tenancy Bill, as stated by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which seeks to create a fair balance between the rights of landlords and tenants and to settle housing conflicts.
Commenting on the bill, which is currently under consideration by the state House of Assembly, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that it aims to establish a just and open rental system throughout the state and address problematic issues between property owners and renters.
"The legislation seeks to minimize housing disputes, simplify rental contracts, and ensure that landlords do not take advantage of renters with unjust fees or forced removals," he stated.
Lagos housing crisis
In addition to the difficulties caused by the surge in tourists and the strain on current facilities, Lagos, one of Africa's rapidly expanding cities, is experiencing a severe housing shortage even as its real estate market continues to grow.
Numerous inhabitants face rising rental costs, scarce availability of quality housing, and ongoing conflicts between property owners and renters regarding constant rent changes.
As per the most recent version of the State of Lagos Housing Market Reports (Volume 3), there is a housing shortfall of 3.4 million units in Lagos for 2025, with more than 70 percent of the population in the state renting their homes.
Commenting on this, the chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, Mr. Ernest Kasunmu, attributed the increasing rental prices and significant housing shortage in Lagos State to the government's lack of action.
He recommended that governments at every level allocate resources towards building residential communities, emphasizing that these investments would help control increasing rent prices and resolve the shortage of housing.
Regarding claims that certain landlords utilize LASBCA to remove tenants, he stated, "Some tenants tend to be resistant. They push landlords into employing governmental tools or representatives for evictions. This is not me endorsing the use of LASBCA or any other government body to evict tenants. It's an unpleasant situation, but some tenants share responsibility."
He believes the housing crisis continues due to the government's insufficient efforts to tackle the issue.
He added, "You cannot equate the current leadership with the time of Alhaji Lateef Jakande. His approach deserves examination. The Lagos State Government should adopt the strategy that Jakande used while in office to address the housing issue in the state."
Many of our governors go overseas. They observe the systems in place there, where local authorities construct skyscrapers. Why can't local governments do the same within their own council areas? When former Governor Raji Fashola was in office, he attempted something similar in the Isale-gangan area of Lagos Island. He constructed eight three-story buildings. The original owners were given some apartments, while the rest were distributed.
If local government chairmen are required to engage in such projects, do you believe we will face a housing shortage in Lagos? I was in Israel 12 years ago and saw eight thousand apartments in seven-story buildings within a single estate. Why can't we implement a similar approach? Here, we are wasting land by constructing three-bedroom bungalows on small plots. These are some of the challenges impacting housing in Lagos.
A sudden warning, imminent destruction
Upset by the seven-day notice to leave and the warning of destruction delivered to their home by representatives of LASBCA, inhabitants now experience each day filled with anxiety and despair.
As per legal documents, the tenants' difficult experience started on October 10, 2025, when representatives from LASBCA showed up without prior notice and affixed a seven-day eviction notice, declaring the building as troubled and unsuitable for living.
Several tenants who spoke with the Saturday Tribune stated that they are long-term renters with lease agreements extending until December 2026.
One of the impacted residents, Alfa Muiz Zubair, stated, "They arrived early in the morning and gave us just seven days to vacate. They claimed the house was about to collapse. How can a bungalow be in disrepair when it isn't even a multi-story building?"
Just two weeks later, on October 21, Zubair mentioned that the agency issued another notice demanding the immediate closure and destruction of the building.
He said: "By that time, the tenants had hurried to the Magistrate Court in Yaba, attempting to stop the demolition and defend what they referred to as their basic right to housing and a fair process. To make matters worse, an agent of the property owner warned us to remove the roof of the building on or before December 25, 2025. How else can one characterize this action but as heartless and cruel? Picture this, during a period when the world is celebrating Christmas, he is threatening to leave us without a home even though we have been paying our rents on time."
For the time being, the residents of 24 Ijero Street hold on to the belief that fairness will ultimately win.
Another resident, Tunde Oriola, stated: "Housing is a fundamental human right. We are not striving to own the house; we are simply fighting to be recognized as humans. Forced evictions have emerged as a common issue in Lagos State's urban development initiatives."
The narrative remains consistent throughout the state. They cannot force us into a painful existence under the guise of safety or progress. The awareness that LASBCA is being utilized to forcibly remove us has undermined our trust in governmental bodies. No matter where you look, rent is increasing, yet buying power is declining. Now, they are tearing down homes without notice. Where are regular Lagosians supposed to go?
Tenants take LASBCA and property owners to court
To safeguard their basic rights to adequate housing and living conditions, the affected tenants have taken LASBCA and the landlords to a Yaba Magistrate Court. The hearing is set for November 27.
The tenants' attorney, Mr. Solomon Fasanmi, initiated legal action against LASBCA and the property owners, claiming that the eviction and destruction of the premises breached the Lagos State Tenancy Law from 2011 as well as the constitutional guarantees of dignity and fair procedure.
"Although a building may be structurally unsafe, the law provides a defined procedure—such as thorough investigation, notification for relocation, and provision of alternative housing for occupants. What occurred here was against the constitution and unjust. The Lagos authorities need to step in regarding the operation of the real estate sector and landlords, ensuring that tenants' rights are adequately safeguarded amid urban development," Fasanmi stated.
The attorney also appealed to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the Area Commander for Area C, and the Iponri Division's Police Officer, alleging that LASBCA personnel subjected them to unfair and cruel treatment.
A section of the petition states, “We reaffirm our stance that the agent representing the landlord and the landlords themselves continue to apply pressure and remain determined in their efforts to evict and destroy our property, even after we reported the issue to the police, who have indicated they cannot take any action against them.”
LASBCA reacts
However, the state agency maintains that it acted in the public's best interest.
The head of the LASBCA district for Ebute-Meta (East), Mrs. Adetoye Aderinsola, refuted any allegations, stating that the organization's role is to protect people's lives.
"A bungalow may show signs of damage if it isn't properly cared for or if there are noticeable cracks. The structure in question exhibited structural issues. We adhered to standard protocols and took action to avoid a possible catastrophe," she explained.
She rejected claims that LASBCA was acting for the benefit of property owners, stating, "That is not true. We do not follow instructions from landlords. Our focus is on public safety, not private conflicts."
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