Lagos approves N11.8 billion to compensate property owners

‘Lands Bureau recorded 50% revenue shortfall in 2017’
The Lagos State Government says it has earmarked over N11.8 billion as compensation to property owners on the alignment/ Right of Way (RoW) for road projects aimed at alleviating traffic gridlock and other forms of infrastructural development in the state.

It said the figure followed reconnaissance survey and detailed enumeration of 1,880 property and claimants affected by road projects across the state, which include residential, commercial, petrol filling stations and places of worship.

Besides, it said the state Lands Bureau recorded N10.19 billion shortfalls in revenue generation accruing from land transaction in 2017.

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, who spoke at the ongoing 2018 ministerial press briefing yesterday, attributed the drop to the directive of the governor that allotees should not make payment until facilities are provided in all the state land schemes.

Onabule, who was upbeat about the performance of the office of the state surveyor-general in the last three years in the achievement of its revenue target, said:
“The said office achieved 118 per cent performance of the 2017 budget and has intensified efforts towards not only achieving the year 2018 budget target, but surpassing it.”

The special adviser, who urged the affected residents where works are ongoing to speed up their verification processes as the state has begun disbursement within the last few weeks, said: “I can confirm to you that in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act 1978, which is the enabling law for the revocation of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), and payment of compensation thereof in the country, interest in the affected property have been promptly revoked, and enumeration of these property completed and payment of over N11.8 billion approved as compensation for property/owners on the alignment/ right of way for construction, re-construction/dualisation of roads, flyovers and ramps aimed at alleviating traffic gridlock and other forms of infrastructural development of Lagos State.