Residents of 24 Ijero Street in Ebute-Meta (West), Lagos Mainland, say they are living in fear after officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) allegedly attempted to forcibly evict them from their homes.
The tenants claim that LASBCA, acting alongside a representative of the newly introduced property owner, issued a seven-day quit notice on October 10, 2025, declaring the building distressed. According to them, the action was sudden, unlawful, and designed to pave the way for the landlord to take possession.
They insist they are valid yearly tenants with rent paid up to December 2026.
One tenant, Alfa Muiz Zubair, said: “They came early and gave us seven days to vacate, claiming the house would collapse. How can a bungalow be distressed? Two weeks later, they brought another order threatening sealing and demolition.”
Zubair added that an agent of the property owner threatened to remove the building’s roof by December 25, which residents described as “inhumane and insensitive.”
Another tenant, Tunde Oriola, said forced evictions were becoming common across Lagos: “Shelter is a basic human right. We’re not claiming ownership of the house; we’re only asking to be treated with dignity. Rent is rising everywhere, purchasing power is falling, yet people’s homes are demolished without warning.”
Tenants Take LASBCA, Landlords to Court
To protect their rights, the affected tenants filed a suit at the Yaba Magistrate Court, with a hearing scheduled for November 27. Their lawyer, Solomon Fasanmi, said LASBCA acted outside the law.
He argued that even if a building is unsafe, Lagos State Tenancy Law requires proper investigation, relocation arrangements, and due process. “What happened here was oppressive and unconstitutional,” he said.
The petition sent to the police also accused LASBCA officials of unjust treatment and failing to protect tenants despite formal complaints.
LASBCA Denies Wrongdoing
LASBCA, however, insists it acted solely to protect public safety. The District Head for Ebute-Meta (East), Mrs. Adetoye Aderinsola, said the building showed signs of structural weakness.
“A bungalow can be distressed if it’s not properly maintained. We followed standard procedures. We do not take orders from landlords,” she said.
Housing Crisis Exposes Deeper Problems
The conflict reflects Lagos’ worsening housing challenges. With a rising population, limited housing supply, increasing rents, and a 3.4 million-unit housing deficit, tenant–landlord disputes are escalating across the state.
The Lagos State Government recently proposed a new Tenancy Bill aimed at balancing landlord–tenant relationships, preventing forceful evictions, and promoting transparency in rental agreements.
Community leaders say the crisis persists because government investment in affordable housing remains insufficient. They argue that local governments should build more multi-storey residential estates to ease pressure on accommodation.
For now, tenants at Ijero Street remain uncertain as they await the court’s decision, hoping for relief and protection from homelessness.
