Stakeholders on Wednesday agreed on some key steps aimed at resolving the dispute over the plan to demolish some houses at Magodo Estate in Lagos State.
The resolutions were made at the meeting held at the instance of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to put an end to the dispute which had seen residents of the estate embark on protests.
Present at the meeting held at the State House, Alausa, were the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the Federal Capital Territory, F.C.T., Command and Police Headquarters, the Executive and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior Government Officials.
The enforcement of Judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on the 10th of February 2012 in suit no. SC/112/2002 was deliberated upon and some resolutions were agreed upon.
The resolutions are contained in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.
One of the resolutions is that the committee set up by the state government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, should meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022.
The Surveyor- General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are also to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.
The committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land.
As part of the resolutions, upon identification of available and accessible land, the state government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.
The statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy reads in full:
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MEETS WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE MAGODO SHANGISHA DISPUTE
At a meeting chaired by Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola-Sanwo-Olu, at the State House Alausa, on the 5th of January 2022 with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the F.C.T Command and Police Headquarters, the Executive and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior Government Officials, the enforcement of Judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on the 10th of February 2012 in suit no. SC/112/2002 was deliberated upon and the following resolutions were arrived at:
- That the Committee set up by the State Government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022.
- The Surveyor- General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.
- The Committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land.
- Upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.
- In the event that there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 Judgment Creditors, the State Government, in agreement with the Judgment Creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.
- Whilst this exercise is ongoing, the Nigeria Police are to restrain themselves from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo. They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law – always. All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.
- The meeting ended with Mr. Governor thanking all for attending and restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all.
- The attendees praised the Governor for showing “good leadership”, which they said prevented violence in the estate. Besides, they expressed confidence in the Governor’s ability and sincerity to resolve the matter.
