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Estate Residents Accuse Lagos Officials And Land Grabbers Of Invading And Destroying Their Houses
Residents of Candid Estate, Araromi Ale, Olorunda LCDA, Lagos State, whose homes were demolished on December 8, 9 and 10, 2022 have petitioned the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to save them from land grabbers and some officials of the state government.
In the petition, which was also addressed to the speaker of the state Assembly and signed by the Chairman of Candid Estate community, Mr. Akaeze Obinda and Navy Captain Clinton Nelson, a member of the committee, they accused some suspected land grabbers of conniving with some officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to invade the community where over 200 buildings were demolished and over 5,000 persons displaced.
According to them, the event began on the 7th of December 2022, when men who claimed to be officials of Lagos State Building Agency Control (LASBCA), with one Alhaji Garba Owoeye, policemen from Zone 2 and over 500 thugs entered the community in Araromi Ale and started marking buildings.
“They also posted notices on the walls of buildings, accusing property owners of erection of structures without evidence of authorisation to commence construction from LABSCA; erection of structures without evidence of building plan approval from LASPPPA.”
They stated that the letter of contravention was signed by one Engr. Adetunji S. I. on behalf of the General Manager of LASBCA from the Olorunda Zonal Office with reference number LABSCA/OLD22/PCA/PET/CN022.
They added that the notice number 0064452 bore a phone number 08033332270 on the left corner for contact.
“The notice advised landlords who disputed the contravention to contact the undersigned Engr. Adetunji S.I. 48 hours within which to present all documents to the contrary.
“Item 5 on the notice advised concerned property owners to remove the contravention in case where there are no documents.”
However, the landlords stated that on the second day being 8th of December, the Garba Owoeye-led team and policemen and thugs entered the community with four bulldozers and started demolishing our homes.
“They also requested for money for ratification and some members of the community, thinking that they were dealing with government officials, paid various sums money ranging from N1 million to N10 million. The few houses remaining in the estate paid various amounts to the land grabbers’ account with the name Precious Galleyway, Zenith Bank, account number 1015027240.
“Monies transferred to that account between December 8 and 10, 2022 are more than N50 million by desperate landlords who wanted their houses exempted from the ravaging caterpillars of the land grabbers,” they said.
But they said that when they laid a complaint at Morogbo Police Station and the Area K Police Command, the officers claimed that the order to demolish the buildings “came from above” and that they should take the case to Alausa.
According to them, on the third day, despite the directive of the governor that the exercise be stopped, “the caterpillars worked till late in the night and most houses were pulled down despite your stop work order.”
The landlords and tenants urged the authorities concerned to ensure that those who conspired to carry out the illegal exercise are arrested, tried and be brought to justice.
They also demanded that the money collected from some members of the community at gunpoint and threat of bulldozers be refunded to the owners and the owners of the Precious Galleyway account be probed.
They demanded that adequate compensations be paid to all property owners whose buildings were illegally demolished and that that the Governor set up a Relief Committee to liase with the community on how palliatives could reach the over 5000 persons displaced as most of their belongings were destroyed during the exercise.
The Lagos State Government has said it would soon arrange a meeting with developers/owners of distressed buildings on how best to address the redesign and remodelling of such structures by November.
This was disclosed recently by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at a function in Alahusa, Lagos.
Olumide said the prevalence of distressed buildings in different parts of the state was worrisome and needed the urgent attention of all stakeholders.
He said, “The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as mandated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, as amended, was willing to extend its responsibility for approving the remodelling of existing buildings to provide technical assistance to developers and owners of distressed buildings, especially on the design and remodelling of such buildings.
The Federal Government has instructed the contractors responsible for the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road dualization to expedite the project.
This directive was given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with MTN, the Enugu State Government, and the contractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, on Friday.
According to a statement released on Friday, the minister said he is disappointed over the slow pace of work on the project, he said, “Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It is one of the worst roads in this country.
“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.”
He added, “So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
He also blamed the sufferings of road users on the lack of commitment and insensitivity of the contractors.
“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on,” he said.
The Minister commended the Enugu state government for their resolve to fund the construction of a 20 KM section of the road and expressed hope that MTN would execute the second phase of the project.
He noted, “Why the Enugu State government is intervening is because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and because of funding issues. The essence of tax credit is for funds to be made available. And so, I don’t see RCC going to keep their promise to finish this project in 6 months.
“My advice to MTN is to look for another contractor within that axis if they want to get the job done. Division of labour is even the best. While they are doing the road, and if Nigercat is doing a good job, you can give them greater scope to do if you want to finish that job.”
He warned contractors that the Federal Government would not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out Variation of Price in contract administration.
The Ekiti State government has intervened to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adesoye, and the Atolagbe family. The government cautioned against the misuse of modernization as an excuse to disregard traditional customs.
In line with the community’s traditions, the government has ordered the release of resources, including palm trees at Oko Oba Farmland, to Oba Adesoye for his administration. This decision ensures the continued adherence to age-old practices.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced the resolution in Ado-Ekiti. The decision was made after considering the Elepe’s claim to Oko Oba Farmland based on historical evidence.
Mrs. Afuye acknowledged the Elepe’s right to be the custodian of Oko Oba Farmland, citing longstanding traditions that support his claim. The decision reflects the importance of respecting historical practices and ensuring their preservation.
The deputy governor, however, told the monarch in clear terms that other princes and princesses from all the three ruling houses should be allowed to farm on the land without payment of royalty.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to comply with the government’s position to restore unity, peace and orderliness to the beleaguered community.
Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude for the government’s decision and pledged to foster peace and unity between the throne and the community, aiming to accelerate Epe’s development.
Representing the Atolagbe family, Dr. Yemi Agbeleoba acknowledged their willingness to cede Oko Oba Farmland to the monarch. However, he emphasized the need for all three ruling houses to participate for a lasting and traditional solution.
Agbeleoba expressed appreciation for the government’s directive, believing it will contribute to resolving the long-standing conflict.
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