It is no longer news that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced the plan construction of a regional road that will link Lekk-Epe expressway at Victoria Garden City (VGC) to the Island of Lagos.
This well-hyped project which is being
handled by Hi-Tech Construction Company has led to the illegal seizure and
appropriation of many landed properties with valid titled documents and government
consent.
It is strange that in the 21st
Century, a democratically elected government will arbitrarily seize people’s
properties without due process, full negotiation and compensation, even when interest
in such properties were duly registered at the Lagos State Government.
Many of the property owners have
vowed to defend protect their interest in the properties being forcefully
encroached upon by the Lagos State Government, in line with Section 2 of the 2016 Lagos State
Properties Protection Law which posits that the use of force or self-help or
any act inconsistent with the proprietary right of the owner to take over any
landed property has been prohibited.
They also pointed out Section 43
and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates the right to own property
and also the prohibition of seizure of property without legal authority and compensation.
It is a known fact that the government
may have rights to make use of private property where there is overriding
public interest, but there is are legal steps that should BE mandatorily followed under the Land Use Act, before such acquisition can take effect. The Sanwo-Olu
led administration has deliberately failed and neglected to take into consideration
the interest of property owners by ensuring adequate negotiation as well as compensation.
It is quite ironical that the
Lagos first citizen would rather overlook the rights of property owners simply
because he wants to impress on his performance, using an over-hyped regional
road.
A visit by our correspondent last
week saw properties being destroyed and fences being pulled down, including
those already occupied without due process.
Also, many of the landowners were
deceived to believe they will be engaged in negotiation, with the State
Government fixing meetings which their officials did not attend, only for
Hi-Tech Construction Company, the state’s contractor, to start demolishing people’s
fences and occupied properties.
This action, according to the
property owners amount to unjustifiable use of power by a democratically
elected governor, who it is within its purview to ensure peace and security of
lives and properties.
They further affirmed that the
statement by Governor Sanwo-Olu at the flag-off of the 8.75 kilometer-long road project which
tries to reduce the suffering of Lagos citizens on road congestion, should have
also address their plight, as citizens, whose rightfully acquired properties
have been destroyed without consultation.
This, they said, negates the rule
of law and fairness
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