One of the squatters of the 86 apartments under the Dolphin Estate Bridge, Ikoyi, Lagos State, a 75-year-old Ghanaian named Usman Hassan, explained why he ended up living under the bridge.
Hassan, who used to teach at Remo Divisional High School in Ogun State before moving to Lagos, said he chose to live under the bridge because he couldn't afford the high living expenses of the state. This was reported by DailyTrust.
However, he was upset that he lost some of his belongings during an 'attack' by Lagos officials while he was away.
He mentioned that the owner of the place didn't force people to stay there, but instead allowed workers from a nearby company to stay there. He did not charge anything from Hassan, but he was unsure about the amount paid by others, whether it's N250,000 or not.
The Ghanaian, also known as Baba Baraka, explained that people sought refuge in the under-bridge apartments because they couldn't afford rent within Lagos due to the challenging conditions in the country.
Conditions in the country are tough, and not everyone can afford housing in the city. He has been in the country since 1981, initially in Ogun State, where he worked as a teacher for about 11 years before moving to Lagos.
He explained that there are limited employment opportunities in the city. He was given a space under the bridge by a kind man, and after the recent incident, he is planning to leave again.
When asked about future prospects, he responded, "Everything is in the hand of God." However, he acknowledged the danger of sleeping under the bridge but stressed that people are forced into this situation due to the country's conditions.
As for his current financial state, he admitted, "I don't have a dime in my pocket."
A 12-year-old girl from Kogi State, identified as Usena, mentioned that her elder sister brought her from the village and is responsible for paying, though she is unaware of the amount.
She expressed her desire to live in a new house with her parents and stated that they resorted to staying under the bridge with her sister to save money for a new home.
A farmer who is also an occupant confirmed that he initially paid N40,000 and subsequently N20,000 quarterly to stay in the apartment.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the discovery of 86 partitioned rooms, sized 10×10 and 12×10, beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.
It was reported that tenants were paying N250,000 annually for the makeshift apartment under the bridge.
The enforcement team of the state’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources successfully removed all structures, including a container used for illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge, as stated by the commissioner. 86 partitioned rooms, sized 10×10 and 12×10, under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.
Tenants were said to be paying N250,000 per annum for the makeshift apartment under the bridge.
The commissioner declared that the enforcement team of the state’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had effectively cleared all the structures, including a container used for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge.
