Ogun Denies Sending Babalakin Packing

The Ogun State Government has denied the claim Bi-Courtney Limited that the rehabilitation of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway has been stalled by the action of the government.

The state government on Sunday ordered the relocation of the trailer park at Mowe to another section of the road, close to the Sagamu interchange to ease traffic congestion on the road.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Yussuph Olaniyonu who spoke with our correspondent on the allegation, said the government was shocked by the claim of the company, saying ,”the application for the use of the site where the trailers were parked was only seen on Sunday night.”

He said that following the relocation of the park at the weekend, “purported letter by Bi-Courtney dated 20 April, 2011 was brought to the attention of the governor on Sunday.

“I can tell you that the date on the application was few weeks to the end of the tenure of the past administration and the application was approved. However, there is no record that the company had either furnished consideration as required or fulfilled other pre-conditions necessary for it to take full possession.”

The commissioner further explained that, “by operation of law, title cannot pass if there is failure of consideration. Therefore, any claim by any individual or company to the parcel of land is without basis, the fact that the state requires the land for its trailer park project is an overriding public purpose which weighs higher than any other form of interest.”

He stressed that the government was shocked by this attitude of blackmailing a sincere government, “and want to say that the government wishes to assure all citizens and residents in the state that it will always act in the general overall interest, take decisions that will improve on their general well-being and continue to deliver on its electoral promises.”

The Senior Special Assistant, SSA, Funmi Wakama had earlier in a statement explained that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had become a major weak link in the national road network. The road now constitutes a major menace to its users, including residents of Ogun State and travellers.

“To solve the problems and make life easier for all, the Ogun State Government started to explore various means by which it can take the trailers and petrol tankers which usually impede free flow of traffic off the road by finding a temporary site to be used as a park for them,” she said.

— Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta