Lagos – 9japroperty

Judge’s absence stalls trial of Lagos lawyer Adegboruwa

9japroperty — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 09:53:34 +0000

The scheduled continuation of trial of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, before a Federal High Court in Lagos was stalled on Thursday as the presiding judge, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, did not sit.

The case was consequently adjourned till January 30, 2017.

Adegboruwa is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly dealing in a landed property in defiance of a court order.

The EFCC arraigned him on May 13, 2016 on one count alongside one Jonathan Udeagbala, said to be at large.

The anti-graft agency, in the charge, marked FHC/L/181c/2016, claimed that Adegboruwa and Udeagbala dealt in a property “lying, being and situate at House 105, Nicon Estate, Lekki, Lagos,” without the authorisation of the EFCC.

The prosecution said property was a subject of litigation before Justice C. A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court.

The EFCC claimed that on August 13, 2013, Adegboruwa and Udeagbala leased the property in defiance of an order of interim injunction made by Justice Balogun on June 18, 2012, concerning the property.
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The defendants were accused of leasing the property to one Shelf Drilling Nigeria Limited in the sum of N61,631,944.65, which the EFCC claimed was credited to Adegboruwa’s account with Zenith Bank.

The prosecutor claimed that Adegboruwa and Udeagbala committed an offence punishable under Section 32(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.

But Adegboruwa pleaded not guilty, following which Justice Oguntoyinbo admitted him to a N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, the judge said, must be landed property owners in Lagos, whose bank account details and office and residential addresses must be verified by the court’s registrar.

Meanwhile, a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, presided over by Justice Aishat Opesanwo, has reportedly recently vacated the interim order of Justice C.A. Balogun, which the EFCC alleged that Adegboruwa defied.

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Fire consumes N16bn property in Abuja, Lagos – FFS

9japroperty — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:32:40 +0000

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) on Tuesday said property worth over N16 billion was lost in 809 fire incidents in Abuja and Lagos from January 2015 to June 2016. A document made available to newsmen in Abuja by the FFS also disclosed that within 18 months property worth N70b was saved, while 29 people lost their lives, and 58 were rescued.

The document further said that the incidents involved 79 public and government buildings, 239 private buildings, three educational establishments, nine shops and 61 petrol stations, among others. It said that electrical equipment was responsible for 28 fire incidents; electric sparks were responsible for 119, gas explosion was responsible for five; while high voltage was responsible for five and bomb blast responsible for two of the incidents.

The document said that most of the fire outbreaks were as a result of human failing, and therefore, expressed the need for people to be more careful and watchful in this dry season to minimise the rate of fire incidents. “Fire is friendly as we handle it carefully, but destroys and kills on our carelessness; most fires in our homes start from the kitchen and kitchen fires result mainly from human failings. “Therefore, kitchen fire outbreaks can be minimised by doing the following: not leaving what you are cooking unattended to,putting your gas cylinder outside your kitchen and returning a leaking cylinder to the dealer . “If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop to the ground and roll over and over on the ground. “Do not run as it will only fan the flames then cover your face with your hands to protect your throat, and limbs from burns,’’ the document said.

The service also advised Nigerians to cool a burn with running cool water for five to 10 minutes to prevent continued burning and relieve the pain. It urged people not to put their generator close to the window or along the corridor because the fumes or smoke could kill quietly . It also advised people not to hoard fuel at home, office or both as it could lead to fire outbreaks and burn persons, adding that people should also stop fueling their generator while the engine was on as it could spark up fire. “We should take the issue of fire safety seriously and join hands to prevent it by abiding by the safety rules and regulations, especially the during the harmattan season so as to guarantee the safety of lives and property,’’ the service said.

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Lagos family, firm unveil new business city

9japroperty — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:15:56 +0000

Channeldrill Resources Limited, in conjunction with the Elegushi family of Lagos, has unveiled the plan for a new development to be known as the Imperial International Business City.

The new city will be built on 200 hectares of reclaimed land from the Lagos lagoon, stretching from Lekki Phase 1 to the NICON Town.

The Managing Director, Channeldrill, Mr. Femi Akioye, said the city was a vision of his company and the Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi.

“This vision is majorly about building a city for the future. There are two things that will define the future of modern cities in the world, smart and green, and there is no better place to start this campaign in Africa than in Nigeria,” he said.

Akioye added that as a form of a special Corporate Social Responsibility, the promoters of the city were giving people the opportunity to be part of the development through the Imperial City Promo.

“This is a chance for an average Lagosian and Nigerian to win a plot of land in a city that will become the most expensive in Africa in a few years, for just N500,” he said.

According to Akioye, the promo is borne out of the vision to make the city an all-inclusive project where average Nigerians can aspire to and obtain a piece of land for the future.

“We want those on the minimum wage, the working class men and women, civil servants, teachers and all other citizens who have been putting in their fair share into the commonwealth of this country to be part of the future we talk about,” he explained.

Akioye said the promo had been approved by the Lagos State Lotteries Board, while Quickteller, Winners Golden Bet, Golden Chance Lotto and GuarantyTrust Bank would be partners with Interswitch as ticket vetting agents.

He said the promo would produce seven winners over a seven-week period, in addition to other consolation prizes worth over N300m.

According to him, the construction of the city will take about five to six years, with the reclamation of the land taking two years and provision of infrastructure taking about three years.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Kedari Capital Limited, Mrs. Ife Fashola, said the city would be built right to correct some of the mistakes made in estates along the Lekki corridor.

Akioye said the consultants and contractors for the dredging, engineering and planning were all world-class companies from Europe.

PUNCH.

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Lagos family seeks govt intervention on landed property

9japroperty — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 11:31:21 +0000

The Oyemade Royal Family of Ijeshatedo, Lekki, has asked the Lagos State Government to be cautious in granting consent to prospective applicants wishing to transact and carry out any form of development on the family land in Lekki, Lagos.

Head of the family, Otunba Babatunde Rahman, told reporters at the weekend that the plea being made to the government was informed by the presence of persons and organisations wanting to carry out development on their land with out their consent and authorisation.

Rahman claimed that the family, under the aegis of Oyetubo Joko-Tade Estate Resources Limited, has petitioned the Lagos State Government asking for its intervention in what it described as ‘unauthorised dealings’ on their land. The said land, he claimed, was acquired during the General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd.) regime in 1972 and covered by a Certificate of Occupancy registered as 75/75/1996AE, by an estate agent whose service they had dispensed with.

In a letter to the Registrar of Titles, Lands Bureau, Alausa, Ikeja dated October 17, 2016, the holding company owned by the Oyemade Royal Family formally informed the state government that it had disengaged the services of the estate agent (names withheld) formerly granted the power of attorney over their land in Sangotedo, along Lekki/Epe road in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

The letter was titled: “Embargo on the grant of consent to prospective applicants on Oyetubo Joko-Tade Estate Resources Limited covered by a Certificate of Occupancy registered as 75/75/1996AE situate at Sangotedo by Monastry Road, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State” and signed by director of the company, Otunba Babatunde Rahman and five shareholders viz Chief Muka Bajulaiye, Alhaja Ajimot Ashaku Adisa, Chief Adelaja Nureni, Mrs Racheal Tokede and Mr. Saliu Tajudeen.

They urged government to deal only with the accredited representatives of the family made up of the chairman and the appointed shareholders who are representatives of the different branches of the family in the company in respect to all transactions relating to any part of the company’s 201 hectares of land.

The family explained that it took this decision because it has been having a running battle with the person initially granted power of attorney over mismanagement of proceeds of sale of the company’s land located at Sangotedo area of Lagos and as a result of which they have commenced a legal action to recover their funds.

The letter written to the Registrar of Titles further stated in part: “We as director and shareholders ( being members of the three branches of the family that make up the three classes of the shareholders) of Oyetubo Joko Tade Estate Resources Limited, write to inform the Bureau as follows; “That Oyetubo Joko-Tade Estate Resources Limited is the bonafide and beneficial owner of the large expanse of land situated at Sangotedo Area of Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State and covered by a certificate of occupancy registered as 75/75/1996AE”.

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Lagos, residents bicker over plan to link Magodo to new scheme

9japroperty — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:00:41 +0000

Residents of Magodo estate under the aegis of Magodo Resident Development Association (MRDA) have protested plans by the Lagos State government to create access road through Block 89 A, Magodo Extension Magodo, Lagos.

The state government has recently deployed a heavy earth-moving caterpillar to clear the bushes and shanties along the end of Ashiru Shittu Street of Magodo scheme.

Already, works at the channelization of canal between Magodo brooks and Omole Phase 1, have created a disharmony between residents and government leading to temporary stoppage of works at the site.

The residents allege that the move is connected to a plan to link the estate with Omole, and creating access for allottees to a new housing scheme located near the area.

They, argued that such exercise will create environmental hazards for the residents.

But the government has started engaging the residents on its plan for the area, which has been turned to hide outs for criminals and miscreants.

Head of Public Relations and Complaints, Lagos Lands Bureau, Kayode Sutton, said the decision to meet with the residents even though government has the ultimate rights to work on its scheme was a demonstration that the present administration in the state want to carry every body along.

According to him, the state government has acted with good intentions, to avert canal over flow, curtail the social menaces associated with the areas as well as create access in between its two schemes.

The state government, he stressed had set up and Inter-Ministerial committee made up of Ministries of the Environment, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands and Enforcement Units. He explained that government noticed that portions of the land have become a safe heaven to miscreants, who even went ahead to plant Indian helm in the area.

“It is being done to avert canal over flow and the menaces associated with the environment.

“ There is nothing wrong in doing what government did, no need to consult anybody to live up to its responsibilities”, he added.

According to him, the government had last year advertised that all alottees to its scheme should start developing their lands or have their allocations revoked. But, there were complaints of lack of government presence in the past resulting in the absence of basic infrastructures such as good roads, electricity among others, to their sites.

“ Government, he said is creating access in between its two schemes, which are; Magodo and Magodo II for allottees to move on site.

“There is always a misconception about the Magodo scheme, but we have the Masterplan and know where Magodo scheme stopped”. He added.

But the Chairman of the MRDA, Mr. Kunle Eludire told The Guardian that such a work should not be done without carrying residents along especially, when the site provides water plain for the estate and a buffer for environmental disaster in the area.

He noted that residents had planned to wall off the place to prevent miscreants from encroaching on the land before they noticed the caterpillar on the site.

Describing the move to link the estate with Omole, as unnecessary Eludire said , information gathered by the estate showed that government was only creating access for some allottees of land in the forest.

He also alleged that the exercise would create more problems for residents, who might face environmental hazards.

However, the Executive Secretary of Lagos Land Use and Allocation Committee (LUAC), Kayode Ogunnubi in a letter to the chairman of the MRDA, stated that the exercise was a proactive measure urgently taken aftermath the order of governor Akinwumi Ambode to remove shanties, bushes and others, that could pose security threat to the metropolis.

He stressed that the Lands Bureau is poised to keep the state lands safe and secure and called for the cooperation of the estate on the exercise.

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Lagos land transactions down by 30 per cent

9japroperty — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:40:19 +0000

This is not the best of times for Lagos government as the nation’s economic recession has impacted negatively on the State’s Lands Bureau by slowing down land transactions to a record low of 30 per cent.

Last year, the state authorities slashed various rates applicable to land transactions from 13 per cent to three per cent. For instance, consent fees was reduced from six per cent to 1.5 per cent while capital gains tax, previously two per cent , was reduced to 0.5 per cent.The Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Lands Bureau, Bode Agoro, told media personnel that despite the cut in rates, there has been decline in governor’s consent, which used to be the highest revenue generating arm of the bureau.

The Permanent Secretary also said the Bureau has fortified the land registry by creating a quality control unit to block all noticeable leakages in the past.

According to him, “it is better to encounter a little bit of delay so as not to register a fake Certificate of Occupancy (CofOs).”Other moves introduced by the bureau to make it more responsive to the public, he said, was to embark on a zero tolerance fon staff inducement and re-orientation of workers on how to communicate with customers.

He also stressed that the Bureau has secured approval from the governor for an integrated land administrative system, which will make members of the public to submit their applications online from the comfort of their home to be processed by the Bureau.

The system, he said, will kick-off at the end of the year as the contract has just be awarded for that.Under this system, land will be made a secondary market for mortgages so that the Bureau will be in a position to guarantee titles issued.He stressed that the bureau is committed to the project by creating enabling environment where the land registry should be secured in order to vet and scrutinize all applications.

According to him, the process will involve the scanning of all the documents and when completed insurance companies will pay buyers the cost of that transactions just as it is done in market of shares. On the issue of land allocations, he said, the government is presently processing backlogs of allocations done by the past government as over 5, 000 C of Os have been issued by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

He said that the bureau has adopted an electronic system to take care of double allocations as well as shortening by the process to get optimum productivity.

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Recession: Lagos to introduce monthly payment on houses

9japroperty — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 11:21:05 +0000

In a bid to cushion the effects of economic recession in the country, the Lagos State Government has perfected plans to introduce monthly payment plan on its Home Ownership Mortgage Schemes popularly called Lagos HOMS across the State.

The State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who stated this after embarking on an extensive inspection tour of projects across the State, said his administration has decided to scale up the rent-to-own policy by introducing monthly payment plan whereby people can pay monthly instead of being compelled to make a down payment of 30 percent of the total cost or pay for one year.

“We believe strongly that people should be able to pay one month rent and live in our housing schemes. We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and pay one year rent. We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger ones to just pay one month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme,” Governor Ambode said.

While speaking on the pocket-friendly initiatives of his administration on housing, Governor Ambode said the State Government has taken time to review its mortgage schemes vis-à-vis its financial flow, adding that many ongoing housing schemes have reached advanced stages of completion, and that they would be rolled out in a matter of months. The Governor, who inspected the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos Island, said government, in partnership with private sector, is making arrangement to transform the scheme into a live, work and play environment.

“In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next few months, we will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out,” the Governor said.

On his part, the State’s Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been abandoned, saying that government was rather working to improve on the project which is sitting on 28 hectares. He recalled how the project started under the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with sand filling, while his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola carried on with the project. He said:

“Now, under the administration of Governor Ambode, we want to scale it up and the idea is to make this place a live, play and work environment and so we are projecting 500 units instead of the 1,260 that the scheme was formerly designed for. We believe government funds should be deployed to some other sites that we are working on and to also come up with new designs and new buildings and so instead of government to recapitalize this project, we are working with the private sector and the investor that has come up is investing about $500 million.”

According to Lawal, about five hectares of the Illubirin scheme would be dedicated for leisure, while there would also be commercial activities, as well as flyover which would be constructed. He said the State Government is already working with the Federal Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Waterfront in that regard, adding that the flyover would be on another phase. He also said that all the phases of the scheme are expected to span between five to seven years, but that there would be a lot of improvement on the project before May 2019. Governor Ambode also inspected the ongoing construction of a lay-by and slip road into Isheri Olowora at Berger bus-stop.

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Lagos lists over 100 abandoned properties in Ikoyi, VI

9japroperty — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 10:03:17 +0000

The Lagos State government has compiled a list of more than 100 abandoned properties in Ikoyi and Victoria Island and directed owners of the buildings/structures to take physical possession of such properties to ensure they are completed, restored and fit for habitation within 90 days or face prosecution. The directive is contained in a document, sighted by Vanguard, signed by Mr. Tunji Bello, Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He noted that squatters, miscreants and criminal elements have taken over the abandoned properties where they perpetrate criminal activities thus depriving resident of these areas of security, peace and serenity hitherto identified with the areas. In the accompanying statement, the SSG stated: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the growing number of abandoned buildings/structures in Ikoyi and Victoria Island which has constituted environmental hazard and posed serious security threat to lives and property, in contravention of Lagos State Laws. “In order to get rid of squatters, miscreants and criminal elements who sought refuge in abandoned structures out of Ikoyi and Victoria Island, the Lagos State Government has identified and compiled the under listed properties for necessary remedial action by Owners/Developers. This step became necessary in view of the fact that the activities of these criminals are depriving these areas and the good citizens of security, peace and serenity which is hitherto one of the characteristics of the area. In view of the foregoing, Owners /Developers of such and similar buildings/structures are given 90 days’ notice from the date of this publication to take physical possession to ensure that such properties are completed, restored and fit for habitation. Please note that failure to comply would result in enforcement of the relevant provision of the law.” Recall that the Lagos State government set up a Task Force on Clean-up of Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island with a view to enforcing the original master plan of the areas. Bello, who is also the chairman of the task force, disclosed that the state government “has already identified such buildings and will communicate with the owners to dislodge the illegal occupants before taking measures which may include revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy of such structures.” He said the task force would not hesitate “to seek the invocation of the provision of the State Parks and Garden Law 2011 as it affects landscaping and beautification of such properties.” Under the law, owners of structures harbouring squatters or those who converted their structures to hotels and provided shelters to street traders who commit crimes under the cover of darkness are liable to prosecution that may attract a jail term of six months imprisonment or a fine of N250,000 or both. Major streets where abandoned properties are located in Victoria Island include Ahmadu Bello Way, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Samuel Manuwa Street, Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Karimu Kotun Street, Tiamiyu Savage Street, Ligali Ayorinde Avenue, Water Corporation Close, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Adeola Hopewell Road, Adeyemo Alakija, Idowu Martins, Kofo Abayomi, Saka Tinubu, Adeola Odeku and Akin Adesola Street. In Ikoyi, the properties are mostly located on Awolowo Road, Keffi Street, Falomo Roundabout, Norman Williams, Raymond Njoku Road, Alexander Avenue, Lugard Avenue, Club Road, First and Second Avenues, Federal Secretariat Road, Bank Road, Osborne Road, Glover Road, , Onikoyi Crescent, Cameroon Road, Bourdillon Road and Oyinkan Abayomi Drive.

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Day of the bulldozers: Lagos landlords, tenants rendered homeless same day

9japroperty — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 09:24:45 +0000

In front of the one of the several buildings that were demolished recently at Abule Egba, a densely populated suburb in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, three little children were seen trying to make sense out of the confusion.
Wearing a sweatshirt and trousers with the green white green colour of the Nigerian flag, one of the children, a boy of about eight, was seen trying to fix his father’s broken keyboard, which was damaged during the bulldozers’ visit the day before, while the family’s television set lay on its face among the rubbles. A few feet away from him, a four-year-old girl wearing only white singlet was literally trying to lift off her crying two-year-old brother from the rubble. The little boy screamed as his sister tried holding him. He seemed unwilling to vacate the place now in ruins.
But all that lay before them was a pile of rubble caused by the bulldozers’ rage at noon. The kids were among the thousands that have either been rendered homeless or jobless by the recent demolition exercise carried out by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development on Wednesday and Thursday.
The state government has said the demolition was a necessary measure to expand the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. As of Thursday, residents, landlords and business owners claimed that about 1,000 houses and shops in the area had been affected by the demolition exercise. They said they were only given a seven-day notice by the state government.
When SUNDAY PUNCH visited the area on Thursday, the rubble, tears and sorrow the bulldozers left on its trail were still visible. Many watched with awe and despair as the heavy machines raged on.
Mattresses, home furniture and other household items were among the rubble, stretching more than 500 metres from the Abule Egba Junction, where a Reinforced Concrete Dual Carriage Flyover bridge, is still in its early stages of construction. Business, bank and residential buildings were affected by the demolition.
Many told our correspondent that they lost property worth millions and their means of livelihood to the exercise.
“The demolition has taken place; there is nothing we can do. I have lost millions to the demolition, I had many shops. There is serious economic recession and unemployment in the country. This demolition is inflicting more pain on us. I have only been managing and I have a wife and children to take care of. We have only been hearing that the government would compensate us but we do not know how true it is. Life goes on. My point now is, people have been rendered jobless and homeless.
“One of those who rented shops in my building received a call in my presence on Wednesday. I heard him asking the caller to help him look for a job. He is a graduate but he rented a shop to sell paints to make a living,” said Mr. Olawole Olanrewaju, a landlord in the area.
Another property owner in the area, Mr. Oladeinde Bakare, lamented that his one-storey apartment with three flats was affected.
Bakare, who had lived in the area since 1980, said the state government reneged on its agreement with the landlords in the area to demolish structures within a 32-metre marking from the electric pole near the road.
He said, “But they (state government) increased the marked area further to about 92 metres which extended to my house. I thought there was going to be further discussion on the matter. We wrote a letter to the state government, but our efforts were to no avail. I would spend about N1m to fix the demolished part. There was no way we could have found another apartment within the seven-day ultimatum they gave us. We are at the mercy of hoodlums and there is no security.”
Many others are now homeless, like a petty trader, Mrs. Alimot Akintunde. SUNDAY PUNCH met her in front of what used to be her home, in tears. “This was the room my family and I used to sleep in,” she said, pointing to a portion in the rubble. “I am so sad; we have nowhere to sleep. Our property is scattered all over the place. I have been crying since. I do not know where to go. There is nothing left for me.”
Like many of the tenants in some of the demolished buildings, Akintunde had lived in one of them for about thirty years.
“I was born in Abule Egba. This is the only home I have known and my father was buried there,” said another resident, who inherited the property from his father. The father’s white tomb was covered with remnants of the building.
At another three-storey building, some members of an extended family were seen huddled up at different sections, lamenting their fate. They could not hold back tears and grief as they condemned the actions of the state government.
“We have lived here since 1982. My father is a retired soldier and over 70 years old. He is very depressed about the demolition of his building. I am angry but what can we do?” said Abdusalam Aliu, a son to the owner of the building
Another son and student of the National Open University, 27-year-old Rahman Abdusalam, said the state government was insincere with the way it went about the demolition.
“I was born here. The state officials did not say anything about compensation for us. I want to beg them to make the compensation a very quick one so that we can get another accommodation. We all slept outside on Wednesday. Some thieves were also caught stealing the property of our neighbours,” he said.
The pastor of First African Church Mission, Abule Egba, Venerable J.A. Akande, lamented that 104 years of the church’s proud history had been demolished in one swoop. He showed our correspondent pictures of the old and new church.
Akande said it took the congregation 22 years to erect a new structure beside the old one they had used for over a century.
Despite their loss, the congregation at First African Church Mission, Abule Egba branch, held a service a few hours after a section of their historic church building was brought down.
He said, “The demolition happened between 1pm and 3pm on Wednesday. But we still managed to worship in the building. We found a spot that could accommodate us. We just had to pray to God to send us help because we do not know where to start from. It took us 22 years to erect a new structure and it was destroyed within an hour or two. Sadly, the old church building was also demolished.”
Business owners and workers in the area also lamented their losses. Structures housing an outlet of a popular eatery, Tantalisers and a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank were among those affected.
A manager at the eatery, who did not give his name, said over 50 of employees of the fast food firm lost their jobs to the demolition.
“The building has been in existence for seven years. The bakery downstairs produced about 10,000 loaves per day. We had 30 workers in the bakery and over 20 working upstairs in the eatery. I believe in the rule of law and that things should be done according to the rule of law. A lot of people felt bad about it because they government did the right thing but in a wrong way,” he said.
Some of the aggrieved persons included the workers at a fish processing company. The workers were seen assessing the damage with hollow eyes. One of them, Ms. Badmus Abiola, said she searched for a job for almost a year before she was employed in the company four months ago. “Now, look at what has happened. Where am I going to get another job?” she lamented.
A human resource manager at the company, Mr. Adeyemo Olabimtan, a graduate of accounting, also echoed the same. He said, “I had been looking for a job for years until I got one as a human resource manager in the fish processing firm. I have been working there since last year. I have not been married because of unemployment. The company has in operation for over 20 years.”
The owners of the houses pulled down claimed they had genuine certificates of occupancy.
When contacted on the telephone, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowose, said residents with original certificate of occupancy would be compensated by the state government.
Anifowose said, “What we have in Abule Egba is a federal land acquired in 1971. It has a gazette and there are laws to that. What the Federal Government did with the gazette is what we are doing. If their houses fall within the right of way and they have the certificate of occupancy, they should take it to the office. We will then look at the certificate of occupancy and they would be adequately compensated if the certificate of occupancy is genuine. Anybody that has a title document on his property will be compensated.”
He added that the government would not remove any house that did not fall within the right of way.
‘‘What we are doing is for the people. We will only take what is needed, not an inch or a property more than what is required for the expansion. I think it is about time we citizens believed our government. This is Lagos State, whatever we say, we stand by it,” he stated.
PUNCH.

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Hilton Signs Agreement On 350-Room Hotel At Lagos Airport

9japroperty — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 08:32:40 +0000

Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a management agreement with a Nigerian firm, Quality Inspection & Testing Services Limited (QUITS), to open a 350-guestroom and suite hotel at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria.

The agreement, which was signed at AHIF 2016 in Rwanda, is set to open in 2023 and joins Hilton’s growing African portfolio of more than 80 properties trading or in the development pipeline, which will see Hilton more than double its presence across Africa in the next three to five years, said the hotel group in a statement yesterday.

“With a population of more than 16 million, Lagos is the seventh-fastest growing city in the world and the second largest in Africa, with much of the nation’s wealth and economic activities concentrated here,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice-President, Development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide.

“Strong growth is forecast for both domestic and international travellers using Murtala Muhammed International Airport, so this exemplary new hotel will be well placed to meet traveller’s needs, offering an unparalleled level of design, comfort and service,” he added.

The hotel will be situated within close proximity to Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State, as well as the passenger terminals at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, which services travellers flying to hundreds of destinations around the world.

Mr. Sam Iwuajoku, Chairman and CEO of QUITS, said: “The signing of the agreement to open Hilton Lagos Airport is testament to a period of exciting growth and development for Lagos.

“Our plans to build an exceptional hotel at the international airport will revolutionise the traveller experience and also offer a state-of-the-art choice for conferences, meetings and events.

“We look forward to a very successful collaboration with Hilton Worldwide on this outstanding development.”

Hilton Lagos Airport will comprise 350 guestrooms, of which 72 are suites, an executive floor and multiple food and beverage outlets, including a restaurant serving international cuisine; a specialty restaurant; a fashionable rooftop cocktail bar; and a hip night club.

The post Hilton Signs Agreement On 350-Room Hotel At Lagos Airport appeared first on 9japroperty.

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