Host communities, leaders charged with protecting Lagos housing projects
Host communities and their leaders in Igbogbo area of Igbogbo-baiyeku Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) of Lagos State have been charged with the protection of the state government’s housing projects in the area.
The community leaders have been directed to specifically caution individuals who engage in trespassing and illegal sand digging activities on the proposed site of Lagoshoms Housing Scheme in Igbogbo.
This directive was given during a recent meeting with the community leaders at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja. The parley, which was initiated by the state government, focused on the need for active involvement of host communities in protecting government projects.
“Community members must collaborate with the state to ensure that government’s property are not vandalized or encroached upon by unscrupulous individuals,” Moruf Akinderu-fatai, the state Commissioner for Housing, said.
The commissioner frowned at the unwholesome activities of some individuals in the area who have dredged the site to the extent that a huge portion of the land is no longer useful for its original purpose.
“Government of Lagos State has invested in the wellbeing of the people by siting some of its housing schemes in Igbogbo to ease the housing deficit that is rampant in the state; it is sad that this gesture is not reciprocated with an attitude of gratitude from the community,” he lamented.
Wasiu Akewusola, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, stated that those who perpetrate this kind of unguided behavior are known faces in the community. He, therefore, enjoined the leaders to caution them to desist from such act as the state government would not hesitate to serve justice to who-ever is caught in the nefarious act.
Akewusola stressed that anyone caught impeding the attainment of the lofty goals of transformation laid down by the present administration will have himself to blame.
Tajudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogboland, who led the team to the Ministry, pledged that the unguided activities of dredgers would be stopped as necessary activities would be put in place to track the perpetrators of this act.
“Sand dredging activities will now be monitored by the community and those caught engaging in this illegal act will be reported to the appropriate quarters,” he assured.
He also assured that the community would now take ownership of government’s properties and ensure its safety. He also added, “Igbogbo is a peaceful community that supports government efforts. We are ready to sign an agreement to keep government’s property in the area secured and free from all forms of encroachment.”
Kehinde Taiwo, director of commercial law of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, was at the meeting to perfect the agreement between the state government and the community leaders, and to prepare a letter of undertaking using the encroachment law as a guide.