Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (middle) addressing residents of Magodo Phase II protesting against possession of their properties, on Tuesday, 04 January 2022. With him: Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN); and Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako (right)
Lagos State government vowed on Wednesday to ensure fairness, justice, transparency and equity in resolving the controversial Magodo Phase II land dispute.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting with Magodo residents, judgement creditors, members of Nigeria Police from office of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, and members of the state executive council.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday after the meeting, the Governor said the committee set up by the government would begin work soon to identify the available plots of lands in Shangisha.
The committee is chaired by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, and expected to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday, January 7.
Promising that allocations would be made in a mutually agreeable location, he said: “From Friday, they (committee) will be working with the stakeholders, identifying available plots of land around Shangisha areas, a drone will be flown, surveys will be made and available plots will be identified.
“In the event that available plots are identified, allocations will be made timely and additional plots, if we don’t have the right numbers, will also be identified at mutually agreeable locations with the other stakeholders.
‘’The government will also review the list of all the allotees, 549 of them, and we will ensure that the injustice the Shangisha Landlords Association had suffered for 38 years, is restituted.”
He added that the de-escalation of police movement around Magodo will be done and the peace which the area is known for will be assured.
The meeting agreed that upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.
Also speaking, the Chairman Shangisha Land Owners, Adebayo Adeyiga expressed satisfaction with the governor’s promise to settle the dispute amicably.
Recall that armed policemen, who were acting on the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, laid siege on Magodo following a Supreme Court judgement.
Members of the state executive council at the meeting at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, include Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo; Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello;
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako; Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu; Chairman, Shangisha Landlord Association, Adebayo Adeyiga, among other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, a Lagos based group, Defend Lagos Coalition, DLC, has condemned the police action, urging the police authority to apologise and withdraw its men and officers from Magodo Estate.
Comrades Gbenga Soloki and Declan Ihekaire in a statement, described it as unfortunate the Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, exchange of words with and the governor.
They said it was “irresponsible, reckless and highly vexatious.”
