Residents
of Abule-Egba yesterday protested against the State Government’s plan to
demolish over 1,000 houses and shops for the expansion of the Lagos-Abeokuta
Road.
The
residents accused the government of reneging on its agreement with property
owners. They said, rather than continue the project based on the agreed 32
metres from the old electric poles, the government last week extended portions
for demolition to 91.44 metres.
They
alleged that the government planned to render them homeless, adding that they
were told that the demolition of marked structures would start tomorrow.
The
residents claimed that the development has left four aged landladies
hospitalised, including Mrs. Soyebatu Atobajaye, adding that over 10,000 people
would be jobless if government went ahead with the plan.
According
to them, a September 22 letter from the Ministry of Physical Planning, signed
by F.A. Danboyi, notifying them of the 91.44 metres Right of Way (RoW) also
directed that they should within seven days, provide documents validating their
ownership.
But
when they took their documents to the ministry, the residents alleged that they
were asked to vacate the premises to pave the way for demolition. They
discribed the directive as “anti-people.”
It
was gathered that structures from Super to Awori, a distance that falls under
the Oke-Odo, Ojokoro and Orile-Agege constituencies would be affected if the
markings of last Tuesday were allowed to stand.
A
community leader, Alhaji Jimoh Agbaje, whose two properties at 374 and 376
Abeokuta Expressway were affected by the new markings, appealed to the
government to stick to the previous ones.
He
said: “I bought this property (376) in 1976 and commenced building in 1979. If
you look at it, you would see that I have over 100 feet from the covert. I did
not build on the RoW. Yet, I agreed to leave 32 metres of my land for the
project since it was for our development.
“We
had a meeting with the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Wasiu Anifowoshe on
September 20. He never told us that the government was planning to take more of
our lands. Then, on September 22, I got a letter indicating that about 78 feets
would be taken out of my plots, not including the 32 metres I have voluntarily
given.
“The
problem now is that, for them to take the 78 feets, they would demolish 11
shops and part of my building. In as much as we love the project, the
government should not render us homeless and jobless. I have 11 employees who
would lose their jobs if my office is demolished. Then over 200 persons would
be laid off at plot 374 because I have 42 shops there occupied by people who
also employed people.
“We
are appealing to them to be considerate. This is the people’s government. They
should know that the ripple effect would affect over 10,000 people. It is not
as if we are affecting the construction. They should stick to the initial
agreement of 32 metres from the pole and complete the project, which is about
50 percent done.”
A
widow, Chief Grace Santos, whose husband retired as a permanent secretary, lamented
the planned demolition of her shops and house, saying she has nowhere to go to.
The
widow, who said the shops were her means of livelihood, added that the house
was the only property acquired by her late husband.
She
said: “With these new markings, my shops would be demolished and half of my
building would go too. Where do I go to with my children and grandchildren? I
have pregnant women in my home. Do they want us to starve to death or sleep on
the streets?
“So
many people have developed hypertension since the notice was served and the new
markings done. About four elderly women are on admission in the hospital. It is
not easy, especially with the current hardship in the country. The government
should reconsider.”
Contacted,
Physical Planning and Urban Development Commissioner, Wasiu Anifowoshe said he
was working based on designs from the Ministry of Works.
He
said: “Abeokuta Expressway is a Federal Government project. The government has
acquired the Right of Way which has been effected. It was the Ministry of Works
and Infrastructure that gave my Ministry the drawings, so I am working based on
the advice from the Ministry of Works. I advise you to contact the Ministry of
Works for reaction.”
Source:The
Nation
Tags
Society