Lagos natives write Sanwo-Olu on details of Dangote’s $100m purchase of 7,000 acres of land

De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a Lagos State socio-cultural organisation, has written to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following recent revelations by President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, requesting details and to clear the air on issues surrounding the land Africa’s richest man used to build refinery in the state.

Leaders of the group are demanding explanation from the governor on who received the money, through whose account and how the funds were expended.

According to the group, over 7,000 acres of land was taken from Lagos natives in the Ibeju-Lekki areas without compensation to the people, adding that before Dangote’s recent expose, the narrative pushed to the natives and the public was that the land was given to the industrialist by previous administration at no cost to attract the massive refinery project to the state.

In the letter jointly signed by the group’s President, Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele (who died on Friday, August 2), and Secretary General, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, dated Monday July 29, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation requested Governor Sanwo-Olu to provide clarifications on the alleged $100 million transaction involving purchase of the 7,000 acres of land by the Dangote Refinery.

The group expressed concerns over the lack of awareness and benefits from the alleged $100 million transaction, particularly for the host communities in Ibeju/Lekki, which reportedly have not received compensation or basic amenities.

Citing sections of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation demanded detailed information on the transaction, including the account used to receive the money and how the funds were expended.

It wrote: “Alhaji Aliko Dangote on the 21st day of July, 2024 claimed in one of his broadcast that he purchased the about 7000 acres of land he used for his refinery from Lagos State Government and that he purchased the land for 100,000,000:00 (One Hundred Million) USD.

“De RENNAISANCE PATRIOTS FOUNDATION is bewildered on why the notice of the purchase was not brought to the attention of government and how the money was expended without the members of the public being carried along or benefitting from it particularly the host communities in Ibeju-Lekki.

“As at press time, communities in Ibeju-Lekki were not known to have been paid compensation or provided with basic social amenities from the alleged 100,000,000:00USD (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) as claimed by Dangote.

“On the basis of the foregoing, we hereby demand information of the allegation and detailed information on how the money was expended and the account that was used to receive the money.

“Sir, Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 provides that;
Where information is applied for under this Act, the public institution to which the application is made shall, subject to sections 6, 7, and 8 of this Act within (7) days after the application is received make the information available to the Applicant.

“Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 provides as follows; (1)
Where the government or public institution fails to give access to a record or information applied for under this Act, or a part thereof, the institution shall state in the notice given to the Applicant the grounds for the refusal, the specific provision of this Act that it relates to and that the applicant has a right to challenge the decision refusing access and have it reviewed by a court.

“(4) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Act or part thereof within the time set out in this Act, the institution shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to have refused to give access.”

They called for a response within seven days and warned that failure to comply would result in approaching the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or seeking an Order of Mandamus in court against the state government.