Located in the bustling Ajuwon community within the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, 46 Fagbohun Street stands out as a vibrant hub for both business activities and residential living among numerous inhabitants.

Nevertheless, an unoccupied structure situated at this address, adjacent to the bustling Alagbole-Akute Road, has recently captured significant public attention. Referred to as ‘Ile Nla’ (big house), this spacious one-story building was reportedly constructed approximately two decades ago. However, the owner seemingly abandoned the property due to the poor condition of the road leading to the vicinity.

As highlighted in a statement issued by the Ifako Ijaiye Council Manager, Adesanya Adegbenro, last Friday, the building has deteriorated into a shelter for criminals, posing a security menace to local residents.

The statement read, “The owner of ‘Ile Nla,’ an abandoned building located on 46, Fagbohun Street at Ajuwon in (the) Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos, is hereby directed to report to the council secretariat over the state of the property.

“The massive building has become a haven for criminals and their nefarious activities for over 30 years. The development is posing a security threat to the community and its residents.

“Consequently, in a bid to ensure the security of life and property in the area, the local government will legally begin the process of taking over the building for public use, if the owner fails to show up within two weeks after this publication.”

It was learnt that the owner of the house, whose name was given as Mr Segun, resides in Abuja but made the building available as a shelter to indigent persons who could not afford accommodation.

Following the announcements made by the Ifako-Ijaiye council in print and also on radio stations, our correspondent gathered that the owner of the house visited the building and issued an evacuation notice to all its occupants.

**Residents differ on criminal label**

Nonetheless, community residents contended that although illicit activities like marijuana smoking occurred within the premises, they did not view the deserted house as a den for criminals but rather as a residence for the less fortunate.

During a visit to Fagbohun Street on Thursday afternoon, it was noted that the rear of the building bordered a daunting gully erosion, presenting a stark contrast to its impressive contemporary design. The property, featuring a penthouse, boasted approximately four balconies on both its front and rear sides, with articles of clothing from the occupants visibly draped over some of the concrete railings.

A resident in the area, Rotimi Odesina, said that the abandoned house was inhabited by many underprivileged people who had nowhere else to live.

“The place is largely occupied by many underprivileged people who have nowhere to stay, but I wouldn’t say that the place is a criminal hideout or that those living there are entirely criminals.

“There are obviously some of them who could be criminals, because they smoke cannabis, but other than that, they are just people who are struggling to make ends meet,” he said.

Corroborating Odesina’s claim, a woman who lived close to the building, Mrs Funmilola Olalekan, told our correspondent that though there were instances where the youth in the area went to “Ile Nla” to smoke hemp, some of the occupants were responsible.

She explained, “When I heard the radio announcement mentioning the building, I felt there were some exaggerations made, but I won’t lie, there are people who smoke marijuana there and the place is often used as a hangout for the bad boys in the area.

“But the people who live in that house are responsible. They may not have money to afford decent accommodation because they mostly have menial jobs and some of them are motorcyclists, but they do not pose a security threat to the community as was insinuated in the announcement made on the radio.

“That announcement is a mixture of truths and untruths because we live here and we see that the problem is that the owner has abandoned the place, so he has minimal control over the nature of those who live or visit there. I don’t know of any armed robber or murderer living in ‘Ile Nla,’ though some of the inhabitants are known to quarrel and fight once in a while.”

Another female who lives on the street and identified herself as Ruth described the place as a mixed bag with over 40 residents.

“But the truth is, many of the gangs on the street use a part of that building at night to smoke hemp; if you pass by there at night, you will perceive it. But I don’t think the people living there are entirely bad, they are just disadvantaged in life.

“I think the government should fish out the bad ones or provide a better place for them to stay,” she said.

‘We have nowhere else to go’

When our correspondent entered the building, some of its inhabitants could be seen peeking out from their verandahs in curiosity.

A man who sat close to the entrance and introduced himself as Saheed Adeyefa (also known as ‘Officer Ojota’) explained that he moved into ‘Ile Nla’ with his wife and children six months ago.

“When we moved here six months ago, I didn’t see any criminal activity going on here, I only noticed that many of us living here are commercial motorcyclists. I learnt of this place through a friend and I paid someone before I began staying here.

Refuting the allegation that the edifice was inhabited by criminals, he said, “We are not armed robbers; I’m part of the So-Safe Corps and a responsible citizen. Some people have been living here for 13 or 14 years.

“It was on March 18 that Mr Segun came here from Abuja and told all of us that he didn’t collect money from us to live here but he only asked that we take care of the place but now he’s hearing that this place has become a criminal hideout and the state in which the building is was displeasing to him.

“He told us he found out that some of the building materials he left in the house had been stolen and vandalised and has given us till ending of this month for us to evacuate this house. He said if he returned on May 1 and met anyone here, he wouldn’t take it easy with us. But we are not criminals; some guys do come here to smoke marijuana and we put a stop to their acts this week.”

“As an officer, I have a night duty and I have said I won’t allow such actions to take place here anymore. We begged the landlord but he insisted on us leaving.

“We don’t have anywhere to go. We are confused. I don’t have money to eat, how would I afford to move out within two weeks? It’s saddening,” Adeyefa told our correspondent in an emotive voice.

Also speaking with our correspondent, an occupant and a mother of five, Seyi Anthony, said she moved into the building two years ago with her five children after she separated from her husband, and would become homeless if evicted.

“Yes, there are some boys who come here to smoke but I can’t stop them because this is not my house; this place is open to all and I have no control. We pay for electricity and clean the environment rotationally, so I want to appeal to the government to help us. Right now, we are stranded and there is an ultimatum for us to leave here,” she said.

**Experts recommend that the government should assume responsibility for deserted buildings.**

In October 2023, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Lagos State branch, called on the state government to take possession of abandoned buildings.

The Chairman of the institute, Gbenga Ismail, said an investigation was needed to understand why the buildings were abandoned.

He said, “Abandonment can occur in cases of lack of funds, people are oblivious of what is happening with the property owner; we have to investigate why these buildings are abandoned.

“However, for those that the owners cannot be found again, the government should take them over, re-acquire them, and put them back into the mainstream to generate revenue, that way abandoned properties would be reduced.

“Buildings cannot remain untouched and unused for a length of time; there is a law that says that if a building has not been used for over 12 or 15 years, then something needs to be done about it.”

In the same vein, the Honorary Publicity Secretary of the NSEIV, Lagos branch, Abidemi Ojo, also noted that the prevalence of abandoned buildings could be a resultant effect of the cost of construction.

He said, “After doing a critical analysis of the buildings, those properties can be bought over by the government from the owners, and a publication can be made in this regard because people are struggling to get to the completion of the buildings.

“In addition, there are slum areas which came to being as a concept of illegality because of the lack of planning. The government can also buy these places, and then compensate the owners, and after buying them, they can be made into a new city with lots of green bridging the affordability gap.”