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demolition day

demolition in progress
demolition in progress
Ikoyi was once the place where rich Nigerians were living as well as the British. It is still possible today to see one or two storey colonial houses surrounded by trees. These are now in poor shape and the pace of redevelopment is accelerating. At a time where oil is cheap and foreign currency can't be sent abroad easily, there has been an explosion of new constructions as a way to use the foreign cash available to some happy connected few. Some sites are for hotels, some are for offices and some are residential. Land being very expensive, buildings are gaining more floors and occupying a larger percentage of the ground surface. The usual victims of this rapid reshaping of Ikoyi are trees which are being cut remorselessly.
demolition in progress
demolition completed
It is along those lines that I witness the scraping of the house next door. It was bulldozed in one night and rubbles were cleared in another 12 hours. The trees are still standing until redevelopment is starting. Let's enjoy them while they stand!
that was before
that was before
And well on the other side of the compound another construction is going on this time for a 25 storeys building, a hotel. It might take a while to complete but is definitely being worked on during the day and part of the night. Probably two shifts take place to speed things up. Of course it has its fair share of dust and noise, but why should be reluctant to change?
soon 25 a storey building
soon 25 a storey building

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