A prominent monarch, Oba Oladele Friday Kosoko, Oniworo of Iworo Awori Kingdom in Badagry division has urged the Lagos State government to make good its promise made 15 years ago to compensate landlords and tenants whose properties were demolished to pave way for the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos- Badagry expressway.
The monarch, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, in the letter dated January 10, 2023, advised the government to give the issue urgent attention for the sake of credibility, particularly during this period of elections.
Affected property owners and sympathisers who took the state’s unfulfilled promise as reckless abandonment of lawful obligation to its citizens are said to have concluded arrangements to mobilise residents of the area not to partake in the coming general elections.
The affected area stretches from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko where buildings for various purposes were pulled down to pave way for the reconstruction of the Badagry expressway and BRT lane.
The concerned landlords had after several unfruitful attempts to make the state fulfill its obligation to them, taken the matter to traditional rulers in their various communities for intervention.
The people were said to be particularly worried that the state government might have closed file on their fate, in view of the recent pronouncement that owners of the over 800 buildings to pave way for the construction of the $3 billion 32km, 4th Mainland Bridge would be adequately compensated without any mention about their situation.
The promise to compensate both the affected landlords and tenants, of the demolished buildings along the Lagos- Badagry expressway was first made during the tenure of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) as the state governor.
The concerned landlords are also calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the matter since the Badagry expressway is a Federal highway being managed in trust for the Federal by the state.
According to Oba Oladele Kosoko, in the letter to Mr. Sanwo-Olu, “it is worrisome that owners of the properties, demolished along Lagos – Badagry expressway since 2008 are yet to be compensated.
“Another similar experience is in my kingdom, Iworo Awori community in Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Badagry, Lagos State, where properties and buildings were demolished in 2017 during the construction of phase 2 of the Iworo- Ajido-Imeke-Ilado-Aradagun roads.”
Oba Kosoko added: “It would be a great relief for those affected if the fund for compensation is released within the period of the coming elections and it will be another plus to our winning streak.”