The governments of the states of Ogun and Lagos are ready for a showdown over the demolition notice delivered to the residents of the former to pave the way for the construction of the Mass Rail Transportation Project.
The affected residents live in Itoki-Agbado-Ijoko in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, a border community between both states.
The demolition notice was delivered to the owners by the officials of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA).
One of the notices obtained by PREMIUM TIMES was signed by the General Director and CEO of LAMATA, Abimbola Akinajo, and dated November 8, 2021.
The notice was titled “Lagos Public Rail Transit Red Line Project Development: Disposal Notice on Physical Development Within Right-of-Way.”
PREMIUM TIMES concluded that, based on move-in notices, about 1,000 homes would be affected.
According to the Lagos state government, the 37-kilometer Red Line will run from Marina in Lagos to Agbado in Ogun state, carrying more than one million passengers daily when operational.
The state said that the construction of the Agbado station and associated infrastructure “is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
He added that his agency, LAMATA, is also “in close consultation with the Ogun State Transport Ministry on development.”
The notice reads “… In order to establish Right of Way (RoW) for this proposed development, homes and businesses will be affected.
“Therefore, this letter serves as a notice to inform you that your property is likely to be acquired in the overriding public interest.”
However, the Ogun State House of Assembly declared the removal notice “null and void” on Thursday.
In response to the development, the assembly called for a formal agreement between the two states via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the planned demolition.
The assembly said the MoU would ensure that the required compensation is paid to homeowners, whose structures may be affected.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, gave the directive, while also responding to the submission of the legislator representing the state constituency of Ifo II, Ganiyu Oyedeji.
Mr. Oyedeji, while addressing plenary, informed legislators of an unauthorized distribution of the demolition notice by LAMATA to the residents of Itoki-Agbado-Ijoko.
His words: “We need to assure residents that a memorandum of understanding between Lagos and Ogun will ensure that the necessary compensation is paid to all owners of the affected properties prior to demolition and the start of work on the project.”