Communities affected by the compulsory acquisition of the land upon which the Trade Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) was built may sue the Lagos State government over an alleged failure to resettle them properly as enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with them.
Counsel to the Eto, Idaso, Idotun communities and the Falade Family, Dr. Olatunji Abayomi, alleged that the government has failed to compensate the communities from the monies received from the compulsory acquisition of their land.
The lawyer, who made the allegation during a press conference in Lagos, which was attended by Oloye Oludare Falade; Land Consultant to the Kabiyesi, Olumide Osilaja and Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, among others, gave the state government a 30-day ultimatum within which to resolve the issue with them or face a court action.
Abayomi said the communities had written a letter to the state government in July 2017, where they alleged that the obligations of Lagos State government under the MoU it signed with them were unjustly abandoned after the government had effectively taken over their land.
According to him, the obligations in the MoU breached by the state government include protection of the rights, interests and welfare of members of the villages and communities; submission of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study to the villages and communities for their review and comments and in particular to ensure execution of the Lagos Free Trade Zone’s Social Impact Assessment Study for the benefit of the villages and communities; grant to the communities and villages right to a minimum of five per cent of the total paid up equity share holding of Lekki Worldwide Investment Ltd (LWIL) proportionate to each community/village contribution to LFTZ project; representation on the Board of LWIL; implementation of workforce development programme which entails skill training, job creation, capacity building specifically designed to increase employment and economic well-being of community/village members and provision of effective access to health and recreational services and educational opportunities at primary and secondary school levels for community/village members, among others.
Abayomi noted that while the Chambers has great regard for businesses operating in the LFTZ because of their great commitment to the development of Lagos State, “we hold the view on behalf of our clients that Lagos State government can only lawfully compulsorily acquire land for public purpose not for private purpose; Lagos State government cannot compulsorily acquire and then sell the land to private interest; Lagos State government cannot compulsorily acquire citizens land, sell the same and keep the money; Lagos State government cannot compulsorily acquire land without promptly paying adequate compensation.”
He expressed concerns that the state government appears to be content in exercise of state power to have taken over the land of the communities without due process.
“In view of the above, we hereby formally declare on behalf of our clients a dispute case and controversy and demand resolution of the controversy within 30 days,” he noted.
