BusinessDay... the voice of business: Yar’Adua assures Lagos of quick resolution of  dispute over landed property

Yar’Adua assures Lagos of quick resolution of  dispute over landed property
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Horatius Egua on 11 February, 2008 01:00:00
 
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.”