A group, Lagos Mainland Sawmillers Association has commended Lagos State government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for making it possible for members of their association to be relocated to the Agbowa-IkosiTimberville in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

The President of the association, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiu Onikeku, who spoke on behalf of the members during a media briefing held at the association’s secretariat at Agbowa-Ikosi Timberville, said the original sawmillers have left Oko Baba Sawmill for Agbowa, and expressed happiness that the relocation was finally done after more than three decades that the process started.

Although some persons claimed that they are not happy with the relocation as they demanded compensation, Onikeku maintained that they are the primary occupiers of the place and all other operators outside them were those who service their operations.

He added that they were the group who signed anMoU with the government on the terms and condition for the relocation, which the government has fulfilled to a reasonable condition, which was why they moved. He further said that the government has fulfilled not less than 80 per cent of the terms and conditions of relocating them away from Oko Baba.

According to him, members of any other group claiming to be sawmillers are liars, saying they should present their equipments to show that they are operators of sawmill. He disclosed that it was late Lateef Jakande that initially mooted the idea of relocating them but the idea was halted when the military overthrew civilian government.

He further said that when Nigeria returned to civilian rule again in 1999, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, resuscitated the idea but nothing mush was achieved. He added that when former Governor Babatunde Fashola came on board he continued the process concretising the work around the MoU.

According to Onikeku, Fashola promised to complete the relocation site but he could not. He said when former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode came, he also did his bit but did not complete the site that would have ensured they were relocated.

He said though the work is not complete around the relocation site, they are willing to move to the site reason members are already moving to take possession hoping that they would complement government efforts on the site in whichever way they could.

When The Guardian visited the site, some of the sawmillers have partially set up their equipment while others have taken possession of their shops and offices as they prepare to install their machines.

It was, however, noted that while work on the major link road covering a distance of 2.65km has not be completed other facilities that have been provided are eight power transformers with the total capacity of 500KVA as well as over 100 units of 2-bedroom bungalows, toilets canteen, meeting hall and trailer park.

The relocation is coming almost two years after Sanwo-olu promised in August 2022 that they would be relocated by December 2022.