The Association of Festac Town Extension Residents (AFTER) in Amuwo-Odofin axis of Lagos State has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to its aid by stopping the ongoing road construction in the neighbourhood.
Some members of the association, who submitted a protest letter to the House of Assembly yesterday, said a certain developer is acting on the authority of the Lagos Building Investment Corporation (LBIC).
The letter was signed by Elder Magaji Adetimirin (Patron) and Alhaji Dele Okusaga (General Secretary).
Mr. Isaac Ogundola, who spoke for the members, said their community recreation hall was demolished on spurious allegations that they didn’t have legal claims to the land. According to him, the developer intends to build a block of flats on the site.
He said: “The community hall was built in 1977, about 41 years ago, during the era of Gen. Yakubu Gowon. Though there have been ownership issues, but things settled a bit since we provided proofs of ownership.
“However, we woke about 6.30am on March 14, 2021, to the sound of bulldozers demolishing the hall under the supervision of about 60 armed policemen. Many returned from church that day to meet their houses in rubbles. There was a school and church in the premises and these were demolished as well.
“After demolishing the hall, they want to build another road leading to the site when there is an existing road which leads to it. They abandoned that road and came to our backyard to build another road. We call the space close 58/59 because the blocks are very close together.
“Now it is on this space that they intend to build an access road to the project site. They want to build a road in between two blocks, and this is the route of the pipe supplying water to the buildings, meaning they want to build road on water pipes.
“They came this morning (Tuesday) with about 30 mobile police officers in a black maria and started building. They also plan to build a fence beside the road because the road will be right behind our windows. We are not stopping them from building the block of flats they intend to build after demolishing our community hall, but we are pleading that they do not hinder us from easy access to our homes, and also not stop our children from accessing their schools easily.
“We are not stopping them from building, but they shouldn’t turn the space in-between block 58/59 to a road; we don’t want a road behind our windows, let them use the alternative road which leads to the demolished hall. If they continue with this construction, it will worsen the perennial flooding we suffer annually.”
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