Nigeria Police have justified the planned demolition of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) shopping complex in Ikeja, Lagos State Capital, aimed at preventing disaster in future.
Force spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi which will prevent disaster, is in good faith, noting that it complies with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in reaction to a recent protest by traders at the complex.
The statement on the demolition notice published on Facebook on Saturday, according to ACP Adejobi, will proceed as planned having met all necessary requirements of the law, irrespective of blackmail.
He explained that the current occupants of the complex were given more-than-enough notice of the demolition to enable their evacuation from the facility in good time, and take necessary steps to temporarily accommodate them within the same complex, while the reconstruction lasts.
The Force spokesman urged Nigerians to disregard frivolous claims, unsubstantiated protests, and media blackmail alleging wrongdoing and illegality on the part of the Force or the POWA.
He also said, “The Nigeria Police Force has been inundated with enquiries concerning the planned demolition of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) Shopping Complex, Ikeja, Lagos.
“The planned demolition and reconstruction will be in phases and is in good faith for the betterment of all concerned”, according to him, “while the demolition will proceed as planned, Nigerians are hereby urged to disregard frivolous claims, unsubstantiated protests, and media blackmail alleging wrongdoing and illegality on the part of the Force or the POWA.
“All necessary legal requirements have been duly met. The current occupants of the complex have been given more-than-enough notice of the demolition to enable their evacuation from the facility in good time, necessary steps have been taken to temporarily accommodate them within the same complex while the reconstruction lasts.
“Equally, the relevant Lagos State Government agency, according to its expert advice, has been approached, required help sought, and necessary approvals for demolition obtained.
According to ACP Adejobi, “The Police and its affiliates, like the POWA, will always be committed to better welfare and standard of living for its personnel and their families”.
Continuing, ACP Adejobi said, “It has become imperative to properly establish that the complex, a property of the Nigeria Police Officer’s Wives Association, which is officially allocated to wives of Police Officers and their relatives, has been scheduled for demolition to enable the Force commence immediate construction of a modern shopping complex on the same land.
“The decision to demolish and reconstruct is predicated on the fact that professional opinion indicate that the structure as it is constitutes a looming environmental hazard, as the site is prone to flood, and may be susceptible to sudden collapse, hence the need for immediate landscaping and reconstruction.
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