By Demi Adeniyi
Landlords affected by the proposed Red Line Railway project at Agbado-Opeilu an Ogun State community, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to disregard reports of disquiet over the payment of compensations for the affected properties published on some social media.
The people, who spoke through the two Baales of the affected communities, Chief Idowu Oyewole of Opeilu, and Baale of Egan Agbado Chief Sanya Peter Oyewole as well as the Iyalode of Opeilu, Chief Mrs Esther Adebimpe, yesterday, said what the people wanted was for the Lagos State government through 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 on 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 demands for the payment of their compensation.
The community leaders who spoke to The Nation said though all tenants in the community have been paid and had relocated, paying the land owners their compensation had met with brick wall, despite the fact that many have demolished their homes in anticipation of early settlement and now have nowhere to sleep.
They said the compensations are being frustrated by a resident named Mr Joseph Olajide Akinola, who along four others, are in court court to frustrate the process.
The community leaders said there is no truth in the Sahara Reporters publication that went viral on Sunday, alleging forceful acquisition of lands for the Red rail line, insisting that the affected residents before now, had even written to LAMATA insisting that they are not interested in contesting the process and procedure for the payment of compensation which they claimed is okay for them.
“We have seen the LAMATA document regarding the compensation and our people have accepted it. Infact many of us need the money to relocate, but we are being frustrated by this character called Akinola who has been frustrating our efforts to get our compensation. Chief Adebimpe, the Iyalode said.
She continued: “They, (LAMATA), came three months ago to pay all tenants in the community and we had been hopeful that we landlords too would be paid, Many of us have removed all valuables –windows, doors and other things we could sell, but three months after, what we are hearing is that efforts to pay us are being frustrated by Akinola. Who we have learnt is bitter that LAMATA rather than going through valuers, are relating directly with the concerned residents for the settlement of their compensation.
The community leaders who claimed to be speaking on behalf of 140 residents affected by the project said they have all agreed to collect what was entitled to them and are not with Akinola in his stance against the agency or the Lagos State government.
“We have told LAMATA that we are not going to court. We have forwarded to them the list of those of us who are interested in collecting our compensation. The whole place is desolate right now and the community is at the mercy of area boys who have been breaking in and attacking us at will at the sight of dusk.
“The saddest part is that this same Akinola was the one going round with LAMATA and their enginners since they came into the community on December 29, 2021. How come that it is the same man that would be blocking the residents from collecting their compensation claiming that they had been cheated by the government, it showed his culpability and bitterness that he will not get whatever he thought should accrue to him,” another resident Mrs Naimot Oyedele who also spoke sepately with The Nation said.
She said the concerned residents had upon reading the Sahara Reporters report on Sunday led a protest to the two Baales of the community who help them appeal to Akinola to leave them alone to collect their entitlement from the government.
According to her, the community is a waterlogged area and members of the community would even be happy that they are being compensated.
Another resident Mr Akin Ejibunu pleaded with the Lagos State Government to have compassion on the people of Agbado and accelerate the payment of compensation to those residents who are not aggrieved. He said the affected people had voluntarily demolished their residence and area boys are now attacking the few remaining ones because the entire community is now desolate.
The consultant in charge of the project Engr Babatunde Osho admitted that some of the residents had approached LAMATA that they are not interested in approaching the court to settle their grievances.
He said: “About 150 out of the 180 residents affected by the project had written a letter to LAMATA that they are not 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 may have resorted to blackmail in the newspapers because of possible delay from court.
The consultant said currently, the compensation money is available and the property owners are calling everyday they want their money but the delay now is from the Ogun State Government who is yet to have their revocation letters ready for collection by the affected people.
Osho added that for those who feel that the compensation was not sufficient, they have the opportunity to appeal the entitlement in court.
When approached the LAMATA’s External Relations Consultant Mr Kolawole Ojelabi said the matter is already before the management and a decision would be taken on it tomorrow.