A Lagos-based businesswoman has been left heartbroken after authorities issued a demolition notice on a property her family purchased just two months ago in the Eti-Osa area.
A businesswoman in Lagos has been left traumatized and heartbroken after receiving a demolition notice from the state government just two months after her family purchased a property in the upscale Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
The fair-skinned lady, known as @lashiskin_ on Instagram where she runs a skincare business, took to the platform in an emotional video on Sunday, shedding uncontrollable tears over the impending demolition that threatens to wipe out her family's hard-earned investment. "We bought our property in February and we have only been there for two months," she lamented in the viral clip. "All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything... If you are in Lagos, you know how much property in Eti-Osa costs."
Expressing anguish over having to explain the devastating development to her young son, the distraught businesswoman questioned: "Each time my son sees me crying, he always asks me why I am crying: 'Mummy, you've been crying.' How do I explain this to my son? How? What do I tell my children?"
The video also showed a screenshot of graffiti inscribed on the wall of the building, bearing the notice: "Eti-Osa LG. 07-05-24. Remove." While the specific circumstances behind the demolition order remain unclear, the incident has sparked widespread sympathy and outrage among Nigerians on social media, with many questioning the rationale behind the government's actions.
Legal experts have urged the businesswoman to explore potential legal remedies, including suing the previous owner for any breach of contract or failure to disclose encumbrances on the property during the purchase process. "Before purchasing a property, especially in a commercial environment like Lagos, due diligence should be conducted to ascertain not only that the property had good title or that the intending seller had good title, but also that there was no encumbrance on the property," explained lawyer and rights activist Inibehe Effiong.
However, the devastating emotional and financial toll on the family is undeniable, with the businesswoman's tearful lament resonating with many Nigerians who have experienced similar ordeals in the cutthroat real estate market of Africa's largest city.