28th September, 2010
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos state Land Bureau, Gbenga Ashafa has said that the state government was committed to its own policies.
This, he said was behind the compensation of the victims affected by the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, which is aimed at creating 10 lanes together with corridors for the Bus Rapid Transportation (BRT) and the light rail line.
Most of the victims had their properties demolished because of the exercise and the compensation has been ongoing.
Ashafa, who spoke at the presentation of cheques of various amounts to six of the victims yesterday, said “the current administration considers it of paramount importance to comply with the provisions of the Land Use Act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which enjoin the government to pay compensation to individuals and corporate bodies, whose properties were taken over or removed on the ground of overriding public interest.
“As at today, the state government has paid a total of N1, 119, 973, 190 as compensation in respect of the new Lagos-Badagry Road.â€
He said previously, 18 claimants had received N582, 709, 850, another 12 received N348, 748, 690 while the sum of N266, 514, 650 was paid to yet another set of 11 victims.
He also said the N250, 285, 560 awarded to the six victims was as a result of the approval of the state governor, Babatunde Fashola.
The Permanent Secretary noted that though no amount of money could fully satisfy the displaced, other victims with Certificate of Occupancy, Deed of Assignment, Conveyance, Survey Plans, Land Certificates and approved building plans to tender them in order for the Bureau to process their claims.
—Eromosele Ebhomele
