The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) has assured owners of all reclaimed lands in the state of adequate monetary compensation on their property.
Mr Lateef Solebo, the General Manager of the agency, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Solebo made the clarification against the backdrop of accusation by a Lagos based company, Missri Company Limited, whose property was demolished by LASURA.
“Our mandate is to redevelop all slums within the five divisions of Lagos so that all residents will live comfortably.
“When we reclaim lands for redevelopment, we usually pay compensation to titled owners of such land,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding ownership of the property at 23, Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island, Solebo said that LASURA acquired properties in the area since 1951 when the area was marked for redevelopment.
“We acquired most properties in that axis since 1951, and owners of those properties were adequately compensated.
“This particular company claiming ownership of 23, Breadfruit Street, claimed to have bought the company, Missri Company Limited, from its original expatriate owners who had left the country.
“Since 2013, when this issue started, we asked them to provide necessary land documents to ascertain their claims to ownership, but they have not been able to do so.
“If we see their proof of ownership today and ascertain its authenticity, the problem is solved,” he said.
Solebo assured that Lagos was home to all Nigerians, adding that LASURA was mandated to serve all residents in the state without bias.
NAN reports that Missri Company Limited had accused LASURA of illegal demolition and acquisition of its property located at 23 Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island.
Its Managing Director, Mr Edozie Okafor, told NAN that the property, a block of 25 shops developed about 30 years ago, was demolished without prior notice although the company did not commit any infraction.
“The land has a valid Certificate of Occupancy registered as LO2059 at the Land Registry in Alausa.
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“In spite of this knowledge, the officials of LASURA, on Thursday, June 8, pulled down the structure and erected a sign post claiming that the property belonged to the Lagos State Government,” Okafor said.
He said that the agency carried out the demolition even when the land’s title was not revoked.
He added that the property was reallocated to a third party who began developing it immediately.
He appealed to the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to look into matter in the interest of fairness and equity.(NAN)
KAE/JI/TA