The old and now abandoned Federal
Secretariat in Ikoyi, Lagos, which was once a status symbol of the country’s
civil servants has been converted to a hideout by criminals, where they keep
arms and ammunition and carry out illicit drug trade.
Investigation revealed a booming criminal activities in the
massive edifice. Some worried residents, mechanics and other artisans, who also
carry out the activities in and around the two buildings consisting of twin
towers, said the policemen usually seen at the gate during the day leave the
building at 7pm thereby leaving the Federal Secretariat originally designed to
cater for the administrative needs of the nation, when Lagos was still the
federal capital for criminal activities to thrive fully at night.
massive edifice. Some worried residents, mechanics and other artisans, who also
carry out the activities in and around the two buildings consisting of twin
towers, said the policemen usually seen at the gate during the day leave the
building at 7pm thereby leaving the Federal Secretariat originally designed to
cater for the administrative needs of the nation, when Lagos was still the
federal capital for criminal activities to thrive fully at night.
A resident said “the government made a big mistake to leave this
building here like this. If you come here in the night you will see a lot of
things going on here. You see vehicles driving in and out from 11pm till 1 am
and the same vehicles retuning at 4am. These things go on daily and nobody is
monitoring them. The Community Development Association (CDA) has been told that
these people store arms and ammunition in the building, but they are afraid to
confront the situation. We are not safe living close to the place”.
building here like this. If you come here in the night you will see a lot of
things going on here. You see vehicles driving in and out from 11pm till 1 am
and the same vehicles retuning at 4am. These things go on daily and nobody is
monitoring them. The Community Development Association (CDA) has been told that
these people store arms and ammunition in the building, but they are afraid to
confront the situation. We are not safe living close to the place”.
A commercial bus driver who was fixing his tyre close to the
abandoned edifice said that ”they do all sort of things in there . Their acts
range from raping of women to the sale of drugs inside the old Federal
Secretariat. The security agencies cannot say they are not aware of what is
going on in that jungle.”
abandoned edifice said that ”they do all sort of things in there . Their acts
range from raping of women to the sale of drugs inside the old Federal
Secretariat. The security agencies cannot say they are not aware of what is
going on in that jungle.”
When our correspondent visited the area feigning to be in dire
need of the services offered by the “inhabitants,” a man who emerged from the
first wing of the building asked: “Gentleman what can I do for you? Is it snuff
you want or correct treatment for somebody that offended you? If it is the
sniffing stuff I can direct you.”
need of the services offered by the “inhabitants,” a man who emerged from the
first wing of the building asked: “Gentleman what can I do for you? Is it snuff
you want or correct treatment for somebody that offended you? If it is the
sniffing stuff I can direct you.”
When our correspondent told him that he had been offended by
somebody, he replied,” no problem wait for Sharp Hammer, he will be here from
8.30 pm to see you,” he said.
somebody, he replied,” no problem wait for Sharp Hammer, he will be here from
8.30 pm to see you,” he said.
Before the complex turned to criminal haven, it was one of the
federal projects of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, which he started in 1975.
The property had been left in the limbo since 2006 when Dr.OlusegunMimiko, then
minister of works and housing under former President OlusegunObasanjo sold it
to a private a company, Resort International Limited (RIL).
federal projects of Gen. Yakubu Gowon, which he started in 1975.
The property had been left in the limbo since 2006 when Dr.OlusegunMimiko, then
minister of works and housing under former President OlusegunObasanjo sold it
to a private a company, Resort International Limited (RIL).
It was gathered the building would be restructured to a massive
residential quarters consisting of four, three and two bedroom flats, among
others.
residential quarters consisting of four, three and two bedroom flats, among
others.
Though nothing tangible has been done to show the seriousness of
the investors, the Dr. Wale Babalakin-led RIL, which reportedly won the bid for
the secretariat with an investment of N7.2billion is said to be considering its
conversion to residential apartments.
the investors, the Dr. Wale Babalakin-led RIL, which reportedly won the bid for
the secretariat with an investment of N7.2billion is said to be considering its
conversion to residential apartments.
Source: Leadership
