A civil engineer, Mr. McDonald Ejiofor, has expressed deep distress over the demolition of his property, valued at about ₦500 million, at 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos, by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) during an enforcement exercise on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
Ejiofor, 48, described the incident as the destruction of his years of hard work and personal investment.
According to him, the property, located at Plot 1892, Route 65, Caravan Estate, was legally acquired in 2016 from the Kuje family, following a Federal High Court judgment which, he said, granted ownership of the disputed area to the family.
He explained that issues arose after he moved into the house about nine months ago, when another claimant reportedly asserted that the land had been previously allocated by the FHA.
“Shortly after moving in, I was informed that a lawyer claimed ownership of the same property through an FHA allocation. Subsequently, a demolition notice, purportedly from the FHA, was posted on my gate,” he recounted.
Ejiofor said he consulted his legal representatives, who informed him that the matter between the Kuje family and the FHA was still before a Lagos State High Court. According to him, the court had directed that both parties maintain the status quo until judgment is delivered.
“Based on that directive, I didn’t expect any demolition. However, on Saturday morning, I received several calls from neighbours telling me that officials and bulldozers were at my house. By the time I got there, part of the structure had already been pulled down,” he said.
He alleged that some of his household items including furniture, documents, and personal effects were damaged in the process.
Ejiofor also claimed that during a follow-up visit to the site, there was a misunderstanding between residents and security operatives at the location, leading to his brief detention.
Demolition Exercise Ongoing
When some Newsmen visited the area on Tuesday, several other structures had also been affected by the demolition. Traders were seen salvaging goods from damaged shops, while others displayed items beside the rubble.
A Lagos State government branded bulldozer was observed at the site, and officials were seen marking additional buildings for removal. Some traders expressed frustration over the loss of their businesses and said they were still searching for new locations.
Residents Express Concerns
Some residents questioned the criteria used for the demolition, describing the exercise as distressing.
A resident of FESTAC Town, Mr. Paul Nwosu, former Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, said the operation appeared to have caught many traders unprepared.
“I saw shops being demolished. People said it was because of encroachment, but some of the structures appear to have been built behind drainage channels with visible setbacks. Many traders were unaware and couldn’t remove their goods,” he said.
He appealed for greater transparency and communication in future exercises, urging authorities to provide sufficient notice to affected persons.
Task Force Clarifies Role
Reacting to public concerns, the Lagos State Task Force denied allegations that its officers acted unlawfully during the exercise.
In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on behalf of the Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, the agency said its operatives were deployed to maintain order during the FHA-led demolition and to ensure the safety of officials on site.
The statement added that some individuals were apprehended for allegedly attempting to obstruct the exercise and for violent conduct, emphasizing that the arrests were made in line with the law.
Akerele cautioned members of the public against interfering with enforcement activities, stressing that such actions constitute offences under the law.
Lagos Government Distances Itself from Exercise
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government clarified that it was not involved in the demolition.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said the state government follows strict procedures before pulling down any structure, including issuing notices and engaging affected parties.
“The Lagos State Government remains committed to due process, fairness, and the protection of property rights. Any demolition carried out without proper authorization does not represent the position of this administration,” he stated.
Efforts to reach FHA officials for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, some sources close to the agency maintained that only structures allegedly built on FHA land were affected, urging property owners to present authentic documents to verify ownership.