A group of traders, which includes the wives of police officers, have voiced their opposition to the proposed demolition of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) Shopping Complex in Ikeja, Lagos.
The state government has allegedly sealed off the complex, sparking fears of an imminent demolition.
Previously, an alarm was raised by the traders and the officers’ wives about a group of individuals who were impersonating police officers and planning to demolish the complex under the guise of acting on behalf of Elizabeth Egbetokun, the wife of the Inspector General of Police.
Tobechuwku Maxwell, who served as the chairman of the complex until recently, has expressed his dismay at the proposed demolition. He highlighted that the complex is a source of income for thousands of families, including those of police officers. He has called on Mrs. Egbetokun, who is the president of POWA, and the Inspector General of Police to step in and halt the demolition.
Tayo Shittu, the current chairman of the Computer Dealers Association, revealed that there are individuals who are falsely claiming to have been sent by the IGP’s wife to carry out the demolition.
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He stated, “We are patriotic Nigerians. We pay our taxes, and we also pay our rent regularly. We were told the IGP’s wife gave them two months to finish their work and leave the complex. A similar incident occurred exactly four years ago when a group of persons came and claimed that the then IGP’s wife sent them to demolish the complex, which turned out to be a lie. In order to perfect their act, they brought someone who claimed to be an official of the Lagos State Ministry of Works to measure the whole complex on July 30, 2023, when nobody was around. Our investigation showed that they were fake.”
Mr. Shittu has appealed to the IGP’s wife to intervene as a mother figure and prevent them and the police officers’ wives from losing their livelihoods. An anonymous source from the police headquarters annexe, Moloney Obalende, Lagos, informed journalists that a meeting was being held with the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Adegoke Fayoade, regarding the issue.
Abisola Azeez, the Iyaloja of Computer Village, who contributed to the funding of the complex when it was being built, emphasized that they have been taking care of the complex themselves. She mentioned that their agreement with the developers was for 10 years, a period that has not yet elapsed. She has urged the authorities not to evict them and bring in new occupants.
This situation has resulted in a plea for intervention from the authorities to prevent the demolition and safeguard the livelihoods of the traders and police officers’ wives.