5th January, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State,southwest Nigeria has given assurance to residents of Pakoto Community in the Ifo Local Government Area of the state, whose buildings were demolished by the state government last week that they will be allotted new plots of land.
Amosun gave the assurance during a meeting he held with affected residents of the community today.
The governor, while giving reasons for the demolition, explained that out of the 2,000 hectares of land in the area, 750 of it were allocated to the community, 250 to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the remaining 1,000 retained by the state government.
Amosun disclosed that the community, after exhausting the 750 hectares allocated to it, encroached on the 250 given to LUTH by selling over 100, adding that out of the 1,000 hectares owned by the government, 400 have been illegally sold by the community.
’’250 hectares of land was given to LUTH 35 years ago for developmental purposes, out of which Pakoto community has illegally encroached on about 100 hectares. Now, LUTH wants to expand its project in this community and they are facing serious challenges from you.
“Their contractors are being chased away on the site and all warnings that you should stop encroaching on LUTH’s land fell on deaf ears’’, Amosun stated.
The governor maintained that the government has no other option than to embark on the demolition of illegal structures in the community to pave way for LUTH to expand its project in the community.
Amosun noted that the mission of LUTH in the community is for developmental purposes which will be beneficial to the future generation in the area.
He however gave a ray of hope for the affected residents when he promised that 100 hectares of land from the portion belonging to the state government will be allocated to them.
According to him,”I want to assure you that this government is a listening and passionate one. We will not allow you to suffer because your structures have been demolished. Therefore, the government is going to release 100 hectares out of its own portion to those who are going to be affected by this demolition exercise’’, he promised.
The governor however enjoined prospective beneficiaries to go through the proper channel of getting approval for their buildings as this will enable the government plan for the development of the area