- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Government has declared that it will not compensate owners of illegal property demolished along Iyana-Oworo and Lekki coastlines.
Oluyinka Olumide, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, made this known while briefing newsmen during the maiden quarterly media parley on the state of the Lagos Physical Environment, held at Alausa, Ikeja.
The Commissioner, in response to whether the government has plans to compensate the displaced Oworonshoki residents, maintained that there is no plan for such.
“There is no plan by the state government to compensate Oworoshoki residents who were displaced in the demolition of illegal structures. However, the governor has the prerogative power to approve compensation.” He said.
Oluyinka disclosed ongoing plan to launch a new agency with the responsibility of restoring and utilising spaces owned by the state.
“Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu is set to launch a new agency that will be saddled with responsibility of restoring and utilising informal spaces in the state.
“We discovered that over 3,000 hectares of land in Lagos are left unused. After recovery, they will be designed for the use of parking lots, gardens, shopping malls and other basic facilities, in collaboration with private sector that will change the face of Lagos State.” He said.
NPO Reported that the state government had last week stormed the Oworonshoki community with security operatives and excavator.
Several buildings were teared down as their occupants watched helplessly.
The demolition reportedly spearheaded by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had led to a protest by the displaced residents.
The aggrieved protesters had stormed the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday, obstructing vehicular movements in protest, demanding compensation from the state government.
Their action led to heavy traffic gridlock which stretched over the length of the Third Mainland bridge before the intervention of the Lagos State Police Command.