27th May, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government on Monday disclosed that it is currently locked in boundary disputes with Ogun State in six boundary communities.
Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Bolaji Robert disclosed this at a ministerial news conference in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the boundary department of the ministry attended to several reports relating to boundary issues in the State, and its neighbouring State; Ogun.
Robert stated that the department, in conjunction with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) held series of bilateral discussions with the Ogun State counterpart and also carried out field work in order to resolve conflicts revolving around interstate boundaries between the two States.
“Lagos State Government and Ogun State Government are presently in dispute over the ownership and encroachment into six (6) communities, namely Ode Omi Community in Epe lebu Ode; Abule-Eqba/Sango, on Lagos/Abeokuta Express Way; ljanikin/Agbara on Lagos/Badagry Express Way; Odogunyan/Ita-Oluwo on Ikorodu/Shagamu Road and Ikorodu/Itokin on lyebu-Ode Road.
“The Department is presently working with the National Boundary Commission to amicably resolve the disputed areas,” he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the department is working with the Office of the Surveyor-General of the State, with series of visits to the Local Government/Local Council Development Areas to resolve conflicts between Local Governments and ensure that the issues in the disputed areas were settled amicably, thereby engendering business stability and growth in the State.
“The Ministry is presently mediating five (5) boundary disputes in the State, namely; lru-Victoria Island and Eti-Osa; Igbogbo-Baiyeku and Ikorodu West LCDA; Eqbin and ljede LCDA, and Iqbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA; Ikorodu West and Ikorodu Central as well as Badagry LGA/Olorunda LCDA.
“To ensure prompt conflict resolution of some of these disputes, the Ministry embarked on site inspection of these disputed boundaries,” he said.
Robert added that recently, the Ministry, alongside officials from the Office of the State Surveyor-General, embarked on a site inspection to the disputed boundaries between Badagry LG and Olorunda LCDA to resolve the boundary dispute between the Oniworo of lworo Ajido Kingdom and the Aholu of Ajido Kingdom.
He said the Ministry in conjunction with the National Boundary Commission is also involved in determining of coastline communities along the Gulf of Guinea for the operationalization of the Littoral Host Community Development Trust (HCDT).
“These activities through efforts of the Ministry has ensured peaceful communal existence and zero-level communal clashes. The resultant effect is the ease of doing business, continued growth, and the continued desire of many to make Lagos a business destination as Lagos residents and foreigners undergo and undertake their daily businesses without fear or chaos or communal clashes,” he added.