The emergence of shanties and illegal dumpsites that have continued to litter the frontage and the side walls of the property of Shalom Nursery and Primary School, and Cedar College in Baruwa –Ipaja. This has become a source worry to the residents.
Speaking on the issue , Dr. Kolade Ajani said it was absurd to allocate portions of the land to people for trading activities when the place was originally a school and residential area. He lamented that it was worse that those allotting the portions to people were not the owners of the property.
He stated that for the security and safety of pupils and the students in the school, government should as a matter of urgency stopping the acts of impunity, which are capable of endangering citizens’ lives, particularly students and residents.
Ajani noted that the shanties being allocated by the land grabbers could also be an avenue for hoodlums and criminal gangs to wreak havoc on the communities and students of the school.
Recall that, recently, more than 40 suspected land grabbers invaded the school, claiming ownership of its land, disrupting academic activities at the time.
Another resident, Babajide Olaniyonu, stated that as a result of the emerging shanties, the surrounding communities have started experiencing illegal refuse dumps by the walls of the school.
He added that if urgent steps were not taken by the state government, the eyesore could compromise people’s health.
One of the allottees stated that the portion of land on which he erected his structure was given to him by one Kaka Junior, whom he paid money to, before erecting the structure.
It also was gathered that the unsuspecting settlers paid between N50,000 to N70,000 for each space.
The Registrar of Shalom Group of Schools, Mr. Adebayo Akinola, disclosed that the school management was shocked to see miscreants coming to erect shanties around the school, which poses security threat to the pupils.
He stated that as a result of the activities, a portion of the land has also been turned to an illegal dumpsite, constituting an eyesore to the residents.
Akinola noted that there was a court injunction restraining both parties in the suit not to go into the said portion of the land, where all the unscrupulous activities are being perpetrated.
He pointed out that the school management had severally reported the case to the local council authority concerned, particularly the environmental section of the council on the need to take proactive steps to safeguard the health and life of the students of the school as well as the residents.
