Mother of Newborn Twins Left Homeless as Lagos Demolishes Houses in Abule-Oshun

It was a heartbreaking scene on Basil Chibueze Close, in the Abule-Oshun area of Lagos State, as officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) demolished several residential buildings on Tuesday morning, displacing many families, including a woman who had recently given birth to twins.

According to eyewitnesses, LASBCA officials arrived around 8:30 a.m. in three vehicles and began pulling down structures, starting with an uncompleted building. Residents said the officials initially attempted to demolish a completed house but changed their decision after the owner presented building documents.

Tragically, one of the demolished homes was occupied by a woman who had given birth to twins just two months ago. Witnesses said she was forced to flee with her babies as the demolition began and was not allowed to retrieve her belongings. Household items could still be seen hanging precariously from the remaining parts of the structure.

At least six buildings were demolished, two uncompleted and four occupied houses, including a small community field. Residents said that every building on the street, except one labeled “Military Zone, Keep Off,” was marked for demolition, and they were warned that officials would soon return.

One affected resident expressed shock and frustration, explaining that the demolished houses had been marked as far back as September. “They told us to get our building approvals ready, but now they came back without warning and brought everything down,” he said.

When contacted, Mr. Adu Ademuyiwa, Director of LASBCA’s Public Affairs Unit, said that most of the affected structures had long been declared “distressed” and served with notices.

He explained that the agency acted to prevent possible building collapses:

> “We cannot wait until a building collapses before taking action. These houses were served months ago, and the occupants were advised to carry out Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to assess their structural integrity,” he said.



Asked about reports that a woman with newborn twins was inside during the demolition, Ademuyiwa denied the claim, stating that officials always ensure residents vacate before any demolition exercise begins.

He reiterated that the government’s priority is public safety, especially during the rainy season when weak buildings are more likely to collapse.

> “Lagos State values the lives of its citizens. No house announces when it will collapse, so it’s better to act early than risk losing lives,” Ademuyiwa added.



The demolition comes amid ongoing government efforts to rid Lagos of unsafe and illegal structures following a series of building collapses in recent years.

Meanwhile, displaced residents, including the mother of the twins, have called for urgent government assistance and temporary shelter.