The property located between Onipanu and Fadeyi bus stops along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, has been a shadow of its former self as a result of the death of Bobby Benson, whose admirers described as Nigerian’s biggest musical exports to Europe.
The once meeting spot for Lagos socialites in the 80s – Hotel Bobby House, a property owned by popular musician, Bob Olabinjo Benson, a.k.a. Bobby Benson is poised to assume a new status, with the recent move by the Lagos State to rebuild the property.
The property located between Onipanu and Fadeyi bus stops along Ikorodu Road, Lagos, has been a shadow of its former self as a result of the death of Bobby Benson, whose admirers described as Nigerian’s biggest musical exports to Europe.
Since Bobby’s demise, the structure has become a hide out for hoodlums who use it to perpetuate their nefarious activities to the chagrin of his fans and residents.
This led to public outcry and subsequent government acquisition of the property.In response to that, the property is undergoing renovation for the use of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) as an emergency centre.
The L-shaped structure is about 80 per cent completed and it is to accommodate the agency Emergency Response Team members, the Paramedics, and offices for dispatchers who will receive calls and forward calls as well. Other design for the project includes, an ample parking lot for equipment and vehicles.
General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Adeshina Tiamiyu told The Guardian that the abandoned hotel suddenly became a hideout for criminal elements who were unleashing terror on people around Fadeyi and the neighborhood.
According to him, there used to be Bobby Hotel on that land until there was nothing on it and for many years, nothing was going on in the place and the place was taken over by hoodlums. I am sure that the public would prefer that we have an emergency response center than have a building that is housing hoodlums. That is exactly the reason for government intervention”, he said.
“With the support of the family, government acquired the place for public good. What is springing up there is the LASEMA Response Unit Base where emergency response activity around that axis will be taken care of. This means that if there is any emergency activity on Ikorodu road, towards Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Surulere and Mushin and most especially Olateju area and Ilupeju, LASEMA can response and reach any of those places very quickly. It is a very good location for us to do our work”.
What remains to be fixed in the project include; the roof, the interlocking and the painting and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will commission the project by September.
On whether there was compensation paid to the family, the General Manager said:” That is beyond me. All I know was that the state government acquired that place. If there is no agreement between the family and the government of course you would have been hearing a lot of stories. I am sure the government must have done the needful”.
