Indigenous communities displaced by the Lekki Free Zone rose from a stakeholders meeting yesterday with call on the government to return to the original Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the community people.
Representatives of all the 16 affected communities at a Stakeholders Forum which held at Jata Events and Hall, Lekki-Epe Expressway, said rather than enjoy the dividends of the project birthed in 2006, they have become a laughing stock by those not affected by the project, as they face frequent evictions even as all agreements are being desecrated by the Management of the Lekki Free Zone and their tenants.
According to them, government needed to act fast to prevent the repeat of the environmental degradation being witnessed in the oil bearing communities of the Niger Delta, adding that they would not continue to fold their arms while they are being denied their rights and privileges, which would bring much glory to the state and the nation.
Among the affected communities which surrendered their ancestral homes for the Lekki Free Zone are; Tiye, Imobido, Elege, Idaso, Magbon-Segun, Oke-Segun and Idotun. Others are; Ilekuru, Itokin, Okuraye, and Olomowewe.
The forum which was at the instance of Global Impact Environmental Consulting (GIEC), and the Lagos State Public Private Partnership Office, was aimed at providing high level safeguard instrument for the Lekki Free Zone and other industrial facilities within the corridor.
It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, leaders of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited (LWWIL), Lekki Coastal Area Development Association (LCADA), Baales, community leaders and youth leaders from the affected communities.
Pioneer Chairman of Lekki World Wide Investments Chief Tajudeen Jegede said concern of the indigenous people were even compounded by fears that they would soon be rendered homeless as government seem bent on taking the remaining ancestral lands.
He said despite the fact that the people are happy about the actualisation of the project, their right to life must be preserved and protected by the government. He said it is sad that since 2006, the agreement by the government to give the impacted communities back 750 hectares of land have not been met.
Jegede, who is also the President of the Maroko Evictees said rather than giving the communities this land to resettle, government came up with only 375 hectares which the communities have rejected because of in wrangling about equitable division among the 16 affected how to divide this among themselves.
The LCADA Chairman, Hon. Wasiu Ayeola said in view of the developments going on within the Free Zone area, there may be need for the government and the representatives of the people to come ups with another MoU that would reflect the current developments which would reflect the present desires of residents of the area.
He lamented that it is worrisome that the tenants if the LFZ are denying indigenes of employments while the communities are yet to benefit from the the presence of the project in whatever form.
“Though we are happy to be host to what is emerging as the most patronised and the most subscribed LFZ, we would resist any attempt to deny our children employments for jobs for which they have requisite experience and competence while people from other countries and regions are employed, Ayeola said.
Head, Auctioneering & Special Project Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives Mr Biodun Okesanya, appealed to the people to continue to support the project in the overall interest of the state and the country.
Okesanya, who represented the Commissioner, Dr (Mrs) Lola Akande, said government’s intention is to develop a template that would address challenges that are already being encountered, or that may lie ahead.
Representative of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development Too Omololu Obayomi said the Lekki corridor is attracting the attention of global investors because of the presence of the Free Zone, a development which he said necessitates governments interest in the corridor.
He however urged members of all the affected communities to document their grievances against the project.
Earlier, the GIEC Managing Director Engr Babatunde Osho said the firm’s assignment is to help the government to come up with a working document that will address all the immediate and future impact of all industrial activities around the Lekki corridor in a way that could make the area liveable and sustainable.
He said all the grievances collated at the forum would be collated and recommendations on the ways out submitted to the government as part of the way forward in ensuring the safety of lives and that of the investments coming up around the corridor.
“The desire of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is to prevent the repeat of what obtains in the oil bearing states, by ensuring that everything possible is
Osho said another stakeholders forum would still come up that would have management of the Lekki Free Zone and their tenants, meet with members of the host communities where the expectations of both parties would be collated and recommendations passed to the government.