Family Accuses Lag os of Acquiring Land for Private Use

The Elejigbo family of Langbasa community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area has accused the Lagos State Government of illegally demolishing its property at Silverpoint Estate and acquiring its land for private use.

The counsel to the family, Mr. Tayo Omosehin made the allegation at a news conference he held recently after the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development demolished the family’s property for alleged illegal construction.

O mos eh in explained that the state government carried out the demolition exercise, citing the failure of the family to obtain building permit and drawing approval before embarking on project development.

He described the action of the state government as unlawful, claiming that the action contravened the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2005.

Under the law, the counsel said: “If an individual did not obtain a building permit before he embarked on his project development or building construction, the state government will serve him notice to enable him comply with the law.

“If the individual refuses to obtain and his building fails integrity test, you will be asked to pull it down yourself. If he does not demolish the building by himself, the government will demolish it and you will bear the cost of the demolition.”

He said the occupants of the estate were not served with any notice before officials of the state government carried out the demolition exercise.

He explained that the family released the land “to the state government for the purpose of growing forestry. Subsequently, the state government deviated from the original purpose and gave 20 hectares of the land to the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research.