Finally, Oyo govt begins demolition of shanties, illegal structures in schools
Khalid ABRAHAM
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The Oyo state government, on Thursday, commenced the demolition of illegal structures and shanties at different locations in Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall the Oyo state governor Engr Seyi Makinde ordered illegal occupiers of schools lands across the state to vacate in the last quarter of 2023, with some obeying the order. In Ogbomoso North local government as an instance many trespassers on lands belonging to schools relocated giving schools some breathing space.
This renewed onslaught is thus a demonstration of the government’s determination on the order with the exercise already taking off in Ibadan the state capital.
St. Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial School, Sabo-Jembewon Area, Ibadan, was stormed last Thursday for the demolitions, with the state chairman of the Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, Hon Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd) leading the team.
Security personnel of Operation Burst, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Western Security Network codenamed Amotekun Operation were on the ground to maintain law and order against the protesting dwellers of the shanties.
Speaking during the exercise, Hon Justice Aderemi declared the Executive Order would be enforced to the letter.
She said, “No going back on shanties and illegal structures demolitions across the state. The Executive Order, as issued in 2023 by the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, could not be thwarted but must be obeyed with strict adherence, hence the need for this action.”
She explained that adequate notifications were given to the occupants before resulting in the demolition exercise.
The chairman stressed that safety and sanity concerns for students of the affected school could no longer be overlooked as the shanties latch on the fence of the school.
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This, according to her, served as a place of abode, hideouts for criminals, shops for the occupants that harbour dangerous substances, and an environment that fostered the perpetration of vices.
A representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Omololu Babatola of the Land Matters Unit, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, said the situation at Sabo-Jembewon had been a challenge to education in the area.
