Magodo GRA crisis: Lagos govt bows to pressure as Gov. Sanwo-Olu orders allocation of lands to aggrieved families

Ayodele Olalere

The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, bowed to pressure in the ongoing crisis at the Magodo Phase 2 GRA by promising to provide 549 plots of land to Shangisha Landlords Association, in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The Apex court had granted the original land owners of Magodo under the Shangisha Landlords Association,  permission to recover the plots of land acquired by the state government several years ago for the purpose  of building public facilities, but  were later converted into residential areas.

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In an effort to enforce the judgment of the court, the owners, with the backing of the law enforcement agents, stormed the Magodo Phase 2 and ordered residents, who had built multi-million naira houses on the disputed land, out of the area, with the intent of taking possession.

The incident resulted in tensions between the police and the residents under the Magodo Residents Association, MRA. It took the presence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who visited the area, on Tuesday, and called for a meeting between parties involved.

At the end of the meeting which lasted for one and half hour, held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, and had in attendance Governor Sanwo-Olu,  Shangisha Landlords Association, Magodo Residents Association, MRA,  police officers from the office of the Inspector General of Police, some members of the state Executive, Lagos Commissioner of Police, counsel to parties involved, the governor said a committee earlier set up by the government would, immediately, set to work by identifying available plots of land around Shangisha area which would be handed over to the aggrieved families.

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He promised if available lands around Shangisha are not enough, other  areas in the state agreeable to the parties will be identified and also allocated.

“We are not in disagreement with the Supreme Court. We will ensure we offer immediate restitution. We have also agreed there will be a dis-escalation of police presence so that peace can be restored.

Chairman, Shangisha Landlords Association, Chief Adebayo Adeyiga, thanked the governor for his intervention, and expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting.