Lagos compensates property owners
Lagos State Government yesterday said it has paid over N8 billion to property owners whose properties were demolished for developmental projects across the state. New Telegraph gathered that some of the areas where such property owners received compensation include Abule-Egba, Ajah, Ojodu-Berger, Isale-Igangan, Olorunsogo Market, Mosafejo community and the Epe Phase I road expansion and other suburbs where properties were demolished to pave way for new projects.
Speaking at a one-day seminar on UN- HABITAT III entitled: ”Urban Tinkers Campus-The City We Need,” Special Assistant to the Governor on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, revealed that the amount was paid in the last two years to various landlords and other property owners, adding that the government does not arbitrarily indulge in forced eviction of people without taking into consideration the welfare of the evictees.
The uncertainty of ownership decreases the value of the asset and/or the ability to lend or borrow against it.” On the need to have liveable city, Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government , Mr. Tunji Bello, said the state government was de-lighted to be chosen as one of the 74 Urban Thinkers Campuses worldwide. Ambode said:“As a mega and fast development city , Lagos State is strategically positioned to play a leading role in propelling development on the continent.
Not only is Lagos the economic capital of Nigeria, it is the fifth largest economy and fastest growing city in Africa with population of over 22 million people. On his part, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Anifowoshe Abiola, lamented that the major challenge facing Lagos presently is the influx of people into the state.
Anifowoshe said: “This trend combined with the fact that one –third of the world’s population resides in slums, emphasises the urgent need for high quality urban design and planning with effective implementation.”
