Lagos State Government says it has constituted a committee on the regeneration of Obalende to restore it to the once serene Lagos Island community it was known as.
A statement by the Ministry of Physical Planning signed by its Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, stated that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, disclosed this on Thursday.
Salako said the committee was set up by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at a meeting with residents of the area and was given a time-line of three months to look into the modalities for restoring the community to its past glory.
He further stated that the development was sequel to the plea by property owners and residents, led by their representative in the House of Assembly, Gbolahan Yehsau, who requested for government’s assurance on the issuance of land title and the impending dislocation due to the regeneration plan for the area.
Salako said the priority of the administration of Sanwo-Olu was not to displace residents from their homes but to fulfill the urgent need to regenerate the community in line with the 21st century development standards.
He noted that the government had given serious consideration to the requests and was amenable to granting property owners in the area a new lease.
Salako said, “Mr. Governor, at the meeting assured the Obalende residents that he will on compassionate grounds renew the title to their lands if and when they apply for renewal; but that should not derail the regeneration efforts of the state government.”
The committee has as its members four representatives of the community, their representative in the House of Assembly and five government officials – namely the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako; and Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro.
Others include Olutomi Sangowawa, in the survey department, as well as the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Ms. Ajibike Shomade, and the General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Oki.
Also at the meeting where the residents tabled their requests before the governor were the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; Special Adviser, EGIS and Planning Matters, Olajide Babatunde; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Abiola Kosegbe; and the General Manager, Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Agency, Daisi Oso.