The Ogun State government has assured residents of communities affected by demolition and land acquisition in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area that their request to halt the process will be carefully considered. This comes after no fewer than 15 communities in the local government area urged Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene in the alleged demolition of their villages and acquisition of their land.
The affected communities, which include Itori Mogan, Laaki, Jaguna, Ogunu, Paashi, Kumapayi, and Abule Odo of Ijemoland, among others, had received a demolition notice from the State’s Planning and Development Permit Authority. The notice, with service number 00047932, accused the occupiers of Itori Mogan village of contravening the Land Use Act of Ogun State for residing in Hillcrest Estate. The occupiers were given a three-day deadline to vacate the allegedly affected villages that fell within the government acquisition.
In response, some of the aggrieved villagers from Itori Mogan, Jaguna Mogan, and Oguro Mogan staged a protest at the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Leave our ancestral home for us” and “Don’t destroy our houses, don’t let our labour be in vain.” The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tunji Odunlami, addressed the demonstrators, assuring them that their concerns would be handled with understanding and fairness.
Odunlami emphasized that the law must be obeyed, particularly in matters relating to land use and building development. He explained that the state has an existing law that requires individuals and communities to obtain proper permits before carrying out any form of development. “We are carefully looking at their requests, and we want to assure them that this government is treating their concerns with compassion,” he said. “There is a law in Ogun State which states that anyone who intends to build must first obtain the necessary permit. If you willfully go against the law and regulations, the law will take its course.”
The commissioner noted that buildings erected on government-acquired land without approval are considered illegal and are not recognized by the government. The state government’s response is seen as a step towards addressing the concerns of the affected communities, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The government’s assurance to carefully consider the residents’ request to halt the demolition and land acquisition process is a positive development, and further updates are expected in the coming days.
