LASG TO DEAL WITH ENCROACHERS ON LFZ LAND

Lagos State Government has again expressed displeasure with the spate of illegal encroachment on the Lekki Free Zone land, advising illegal occupants on the land to henceforth desist from their unlawful activities or face the wrath of the law.

Addressing the host communities of LFZ at a stakeholders parley recently, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, said that the massive encroachment was needless on a land already acquired by the government and committed to a project that would bring succour to residents of the State.

Ogunleye advised members of the public to be wary of dubious advertisements on “land purchase beside the Lekki Free Zone” sponsored by private estate developers, stressing that the 16,347 hectares Lekki Free Zone land acquired for development by the State government remains a ‘No-Go-Area’ for any developmental activities other than for the purpose for which it was acquired.

“Any private developer or land speculator deceiving members of the public into purchasing the parcels of land at LFZ are on their own because the State government will start demolishing all illegal structures already erected within the acquired areas”, he reiterated.

Also speaking at the parley, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl. Wasiu Anifowose, advised potential land buyers to always approach the Ministry for necessary planning information that would be provided by the Ministry free-of-charge.

He explained that any occupant within government’s acquisition without proper investigation from the Land Bureau and the Surveyor General’s Office stood the risk of losing their money and property.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami advised residents of the area to key into the long term benefits of the Zone to the various communities instead of encroaching on the land, adding that the present administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode meant well for all the host communities of the Free Zone.

“The benefits of Lekki Free Zone to Epe division is enormous, about 750 hectares of land had been given as resettlement in addition to the excision granted by the State government and several other interventions in form of monetary compensation from the State government to the beneficiaries” Folami stated.

The Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun who spoke on behalf of all the traditional rulers at the event, urged the State government to deal with any trespasser caught on the earmarked areas for development.

He said the law prohibiting unlawful land grabbing should be brought to bear to deal with culprits.

The Oba pleaded with those who support the vision of the State government for the Zone to continue to believe in its transformation as a catalyst for employment boost within the axis in particular and across the State as a whole.