Follow Us on Google
A business mogul in Lagos, Chief Livinus Okwara, has narrated how he reclaimed his parcels of land which were allegedly acquired by the Lagos State government.
Okwara, who is the Director, Rimax Computer Institute, said the two parcels of land: 100×400 square metres and 400×400 square metres at Awoyaya Ilado, in Lekki, were compulsorily acquired by the Lagos government, only to be given out to private individuals, some of whom, he said, eventually sold them to other people who never used them for such overriding public purpose for which they were acquired by the state government.
“Though I was able to get a landmark judgement recently after 12 years, through the court, returning the land to me and describing the state government’s action as illegal, unlawful, null and void, since the land was not used for the purpose of public interest, but sold to private individuals. The fact remains that we have a lot of people in my situation, who do not have the wherewithal to seek such justice,” he stated.
Chief Okwara, however, noted that the judgement and subsequent return of the property to him would enable him to contribute his own quota to making lekki community a commercial hall.
“I think the state government should be thinking in that direction, too. Lekki is too strategic to be left in a perilous state. There is nothing wrong in making it a global commercial hub, where traders and businessmen all over the world can fly in, transact business and leave. It should be able to have its own airport for easy entry and exit.”
He charged national and sub-national governments to work within the law guiding land acquisition, by ensuring such lands are used for public purposes.
He decried a situation where citizens’ lands were compulsorily acquired by the state for overriding public interest without compensation, only to be resold to cronies of such government. Besides being an abuse of privileged positions, the chief stated that the action may also distort the original plans of communities, where such lands are acquired.
While recognising the power of any government to acquire land for ‘overriding public interest’, the entrepreneur, however, believes government should also ensure it works within the confines of what constitutes such public interest as stipulated in section 28 of the land use act.
After the judgement, I’ve been able to negotiate with the occupiers. I have made them understand that they can continue with their businesses, but be assured that there is a change of ownership, as such a lease agreement has been signed for the first 20 years.
