A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and member of the Lagos Governance Advisory Council, Olorunfunmi Basorun, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to compensate owners of buildings demolished for road construction in the Ikorodu area of the state.
Basorun, who was Secretary to the Lagos State Government under the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, told The PUNCH on Saturday that he had it on good authority that many of those affected had not been compensated six years after their buildings were demolished.
The Lagos State Government during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode demolished some buildings in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu to make way for the construction of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way in the area.
Six years after the demolition and commencement of the road construction, our correspondent observed that the project is still under construction.
Speaking on the project and the compensation of affected house owners, he said, “Frankly speaking, the job is too slow, and payment of compensation for many has not been done. I believe the government should consider paying urgently now. Why? Whatever is due to them has been eroded by inflation.
“If anybody was to get N10,000 in 2017 when the demolition of the structures took place, which is six years ago, for example, and he’s to be paid now, certainly what he’s getting now cannot buy half of what that N10,000 could buy then, because the value of money is what money can buy. So, the value has depreciated. It will continue to depreciate.
“So, we want to appeal to the state government to please pay now that we are going into a new year. Well, we continue to lead delegation every time. We have not led one in recent times but let them not say because we are keeping quiet that we are satisfied. We are not satisfied with the payment of compensation.”
In his reaction, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said those who have valid documents would be paid their compensation.
Omotoso said, “I know that the Lagos State Government, whenever they demolish any house, so long as the people have the papers, they are going to be compensated.”
