The Ogun State Government has reassured residents of communities affected by ongoing demolition and land acquisition in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area that their appeal for a suspension of the exercise will be given due consideration.
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Reports indicate that at least 15 communities in the area had, on Saturday, called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to step in over the alleged demolition of their settlements and the takeover of their land.
The communities include Itori Mogan, Laaki, Jaguna, Ogunu, Paashi, Kumapayi, Abule Odo of Ijemoland among others.
It was reported that the State’s Planning and Development Permit Authority, Abeokuta Metro Zonal Planning Office, had on Friday, served a demolition notice with service number 00047932 on the occupiers of Itori Mogan village, accusing them of contravening the Land Use Act of Ogun State for residing in Hillcrest Estate.
According to the notice, the occupiers were given a three-day deadline to vacate the alleged affected villages that fell within the government acquisition.
Some of the aggrieved villagers from Itori Mogan, Jaguna Mogan and Oguro Mogan took to a protest on Monday, expressing their grievances at the governor’s office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions, ” Leave our ancestral home for us,” ” Gov. Dapo Abiodun please come to our aid”, ” Don’t destroy our houses, don’t let our labour be in vain”, among others.
Addressing the demonstrators, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tunji Odunlami, assured them that their concerns will be handled with understanding and fairness.
Odunlami, however, stressed that the law must be obeyed, especially in matters relating to land use and building development, explaining that the state has an existing law that requires individuals and communities to obtain proper permits before carrying out any form of development.
He said, “We are carefully looking at their requests, and we want to assure them that this government is treating their concerns with compassion. We are confident that there will be a good resolution to all the matters they have raised.
“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. But as I have said, this is a very magnanimous government. We look at every case on its own merit and then decide what action to take”.
The commissioner noted that buildings erected on government-acquired land without approval are considered illegal, adding that such developments are not recognised by the government.
“The truth remains that no development should be carried out in Ogun State without obtaining the required permit. Building without approval, especially on government-acquired land, is a serious violation, and the government will not treat such cases lightly” Odunlami added.
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