Omega Power Ministries members have expressed dissatisfaction with the demolition of their church building on the Cele Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos. The demolition was said to be for development purposes.
A viral video shows students from the church’s free orphanage school being displaced outside the building.
However, Kola Ojelabi, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communications, stated that they had made an offer of N123 million for the property. The church had protested the payment, claiming that “the demolished parts of the church were worth about N900m, stating that what the government was offering was meagre compared to the value.”
Meanwhile, scavengers, dealers, and others were seen at the site negotiating with church members to purchase goods rescued from the demolition.
He clarified: “I’m not happy with what happened…” While Chimnonso was conversing with our correspondent, an obviously upset female church member named Purity interrupted and hurried him away, whispering that he should not discuss the situation with our journalist.
With a mournful face, one of the church’s leaders, a lady who did not provide her name, said, “You can describe what you’ve seen here as a journalist. Because we are not allowed to discuss anything because the level we have reached with the state government.”