On Thursday 30th September at about 4pm, armed men stating that they were from a Special Task Force from the Lagos State Government invaded the Bics Boat Club premises and marked boats and buildings saying they should be removed in 48hrs. They provided no paperwork to back their mandate.
The next day, 1st October, was a public holiday and the Club’s lawyers made calls and were granted a meeting with the Lagos State Anti-Land Grabbers Department on Monday, 4th October to try to resolve any issues.
Despite the reassurance that there would be a stay of any action until the conclusion of said meeting on the 4th of October, more members of the Task Force and a mob of touts stormed Bics Boat Club with bulldozers, breaking the perimeter walls and staff quarters of the Rowing Canoe and Sailing Federation on Saturday, 2nd October 2021.
After breaching the perimeter, they began moving the boats on the land, mishandling them, damaging a few and building new walls to stop people from accessing part of the Club’s premises. All of which were clearly defined on the survey map of the Federal C of O granted
for their operations.
Despite the destruction on Saturday, 2nd October, no paperwork whatsoever has to date been presented to legitimise their actions.
From that Saturday till date, more areas of the premises are being fenced with the Special Task Force protecting these individuals with no legal instrument to show for their actions.
The Club’s lawyers have tried to schedule meetings with the view of resolving any issues and are also trying to reach out to the Attorney General and the Governor of Lagos State.
Today, October 8th 2021, the Special Task Force once again stormed Bics Boat Club to inflict more damage and destruction and again, no notices were served to justify these actions.
Members of the Rowing Canoe and Sailing Federation of Nigeria training at Bics Boat Club and living in the demolished residential buildings are now homeless and many staff members have been manhandled by the Special Task Force.
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