Landlords affected by the proposed Red Line Railway project at Agbado and Opeilu, Ogun State communities, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to disregard reports of disquiet over the payment of compensations for the affected properties, published in some social media.
The people, who yesterday spoke through the two Baales of the affected communities, Chief Idowu Oyewole of Opeilu and Baale of Egan Agbado, Chief Sanya Oyewole, as well as the Iyalode of Opeilu, Chief Esther Adebimpe, said what the people wanted was for the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to pay them their compensation and allow them move on with their lives.
The Red Line railway, one of the two legacy projects of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration on Lagos Urban Rail Transport (LURT), is to run from Agbado to Oyingbo in the first phase.
The community leaders, who were besieged by the aggrieved land owners, appealed to the Lagos State Government to accede to the people’s demand for the payment of their compensation.
The community leaders, who spoke to The Nation, said although tenants in the community had been paid and had relocated, paying the land owners their compensation had met with brick wall, “despite that many have demolished their homes in anticipation of early settlement and now have nowhere to sleep.”
They said the compensations were being frustrated by a resident, who along with four others, were in court to frustrate the process.
The consultant in charge of the project, Babatunde Osho, admitted that some of the residents had approached LAMATA that they were not interested in approaching the court to settle their grievances.
He said: “About 150 of the 180 residents affected by the project have written a letter to LAMATA that they are not a party to any matter in court and are ready to collect their money. A copy of the letter is with LAMATA with over 150 people out of the 180 ready to collect their money.”
Osho said the affected people might have resorted to blackmail in the newspapers because of possible delay from court.
The consultant said the compensation money was available and the property owners called everyday that they wanted their money, “but the delay is from the Ogun State Government, who are yet to have their revocation letters ready for collection by the affected people.”
Osho said for those who felt that the compensation was not sufficient, they had the opportunity to appeal the entitlement in court.
Contacted, LAMATA External Relations Consultant Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi said the matter was before the management, adding that a decision would be taken on it.