Maduka Nweke
Apparently feeling sidelined by the Lagos State government in the compensation of demolished properties in the ongoing appreciation exercise, some landlords whose houses were demolished during the expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway but who are yet to be compensated are mobilising for action.
The group, which goes by the name, Coordinated Landlords Association (CLA) believed that its members were sidelined probably because it was under Babatunde Raji Fashola’s administration that their buildings were demolished.
Speaking to Daily Sun, the Chairman of the group, Chief Nurudeen Ibiyemi, said they cannot allow their properties to be demolished without anything being done. He said that few people, most of whose properties were not located in the area, were put in the list prepared in 2014 and compensated while some them whose means of livelihood were destroyed were left with nothing.
“We suspect that some people who were compensated are trying to sabotage our efforts in this direction. We have written so many letters to the Lagos State government but none has been replied.
In the same vein, Mr. Chidiebere Okoroafor whose attachment was demolished in Festac Extension demanding to be compensated. He said, “I spent close to N3 million to fix the flat and I cannot allow such huge sum to go down the drain. They have to either rebuild it or give me money with which to do that,” he stated.
Lagos State government had on Tuesday said it has commenced payment of over N11.8 billion as compensation to owners of properties demolished to give way for construction of roads, flyovers, ramps and other critical infrastructural projects across the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands Bureau, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, who disclosed this at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing, said the payment was for properties demolished for projects including the Abule Egba Road expansion, Epe Road expansion, Lekki International Airport, Pen Cinema flyover, ultra- modern bus terminal in Oyingbo and upgrading of Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, Oshodi.
She listed other projects to include Mechanic Village, Gbagada Phase 1, Ojokoro Specialist Hospital, construction of Freedom Road/drainage channel, reconstruction of Agric-Ishawo Konu-Arepo Road, among others.
Onabule said that following the approval of the projects, the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development moved to these areas to determine the Right of Way (ROW) for the proposed projects, while the Lands Bureau carried out a reconnaissance survey and detailed enumeration of about 1,880 properties and claimants affected by the development including residential, commercial, petrol filling stations and religious centres.
“I can confirm to you that in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978, which is the enabling law for the revocation of Right of Occupancy (C of O) and payment of compensation thereof in the country, interest in the affected properties have been promptly revoked.’’