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Yar’Adua assures Lagos of quick resolution of dispute over landed property
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... whatever the court rules, we will obey, he says
President Umaru Yar’Adua yesterday, in Abuja gave a firm assurance on the quick resolution of all current disagreement between the Federal Government and the Lagos State government over the ownership of land and landed properties in the state.
Speaking after the presentation of a memorandum presented to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by the Council of Lagos State Eminent Citizens led by Rilwanu Akiolu I, the Oba of Lagos, Yar’Adua assured the delegation of his government’s readiness to speed up the process of dialogue with a view to resolving the problem.
“We will resolve the issues in contention with Lagos State in conformity with the law. All the issues that have been raised are governed by some legislation. We will examine these laws and agree on the way forward. Where we cannot reach a consensus, then we should not be afraid to settle the matter in court.
“What I can assure you is that on any of these issues, whatever the court rules, we will obey,” Yar’Adua said.
The delegation earlier prevailed on Yar’Adua to intervene personally in the dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State over issues bordering on Lagos State government quarters occupied by federal civil servants, the sale of residential houses occupied by federal civil servants, the sale or privatisation of public facilities, such as the Tafawa Balewa Square and the National Theatre, and the rightful ownership of Banana Island, Snake Island, Osborne, Ilubirin etc.
“Land is to Lagos State what oil is to the oil producing states in the Nigerian federation.”
The delegation called for an effective policy on land management and urbanization in the state, which, adding that Lagos “has the sole constitutional responsibility for these matters to the exclusion of the Federal or any other state government”.
“An abuse of State lands for purposes other that which they were acquired for, or denial of title of Lagos State Government to state land in Lagos State by whatever means, will amount to deprivation of the constitutional rights of the people of Lagos State and a rape on democracy.”
“We will resolve the issues in contention with Lagos State in conformity with the law. All the issues that have been raised are governed by some legislation. We will examine these laws and agree on the way forward. Where we cannot reach a consensus, then we should not be afraid to settle the matter in court.
“What I can assure you is that on any of these issues, whatever the court rules, we will obey,” Yar’Adua said.
The delegation earlier prevailed on Yar’Adua to intervene personally in the dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State over issues bordering on Lagos State government quarters occupied by federal civil servants, the sale of residential houses occupied by federal civil servants, the sale or privatisation of public facilities, such as the Tafawa Balewa Square and the National Theatre, and the rightful ownership of Banana Island, Snake Island, Osborne, Ilubirin etc.
“Land is to Lagos State what oil is to the oil producing states in the Nigerian federation.”
The delegation called for an effective policy on land management and urbanization in the state, which, adding that Lagos “has the sole constitutional responsibility for these matters to the exclusion of the Federal or any other state government”.
“An abuse of State lands for purposes other that which they were acquired for, or denial of title of Lagos State Government to state land in Lagos State by whatever means, will amount to deprivation of the constitutional rights of the people of Lagos State and a rape on democracy.”
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