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 Lekki-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.
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 government may have rights to
make use of private property where there is overriding public interest, but
there is are legal steps that should mandatory be followed under the Land Use
Act, before such acquisition can take effect.
The Sanwo-Olu led administration has 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 to the area last week saw properties
being destroyed and fences being pulled down, including those already occupied
without due process.
Also, many of the land owners expected that they would 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 kilometre-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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