By Damilola Kushimo
The Isolo Local Council Development Area, LCDA plans to convert the shopping complex built in Alagbeji ward by the former administration to a primary health care centre.
LCDA chairman Otunba Adebayo Olasoju is discussing with the developer for a mutual agreement on the conversion.
The move is meant to answer the prayers of residents for a PHC of their own and placate the residents association of Adebisi Omotola street to withdraw its lawsuit against the council over the disputed land on which the complex is built.
The previous administration of Shamsudeen Olaleye had early in the year challenged the association to go to court when it disputed the council’s claim of ownership of the land.
In the court’s summon letter obtained by ECHONEWS, the residents’ association filed a litigation against the council authority, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) at the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
The association, through its counsel, Olukunle Oyewole ESQ, requested that the court should declare the shopping complex illegal and make an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies and officers from further building the shopping complex.
The association also prayed the court to mandate the defendants especially the commissioner and LASBCA to remove and demolish the shopping complex.
It also pleaded that the court should mandate the commissioner and LASBCA to perform their statutory duties to review, order and monitor the demolition of the shopping complex and award a sum of N2 million for the cost of legal services they incurred from the direct consequences of the actions of the defendants and award another sum of N20 million as general damages.
The personnel of LASBCA had earlier, in May, this year, carried out a partial demolition on the building after directing the council to stop the construction for contravening the physical planning and urban development laws.
LASBCA also claimed then that the council did not obtain the permit of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPA) permit.
The agency gave the council two weeks starting from Tuesday, April 27, to defend its position but the council failed to do so hence, the partial demolition of the building.
However, the construction was later completed as the council said it had resolved the issue.
Commending the move by the council chairman to convert the shopping complex to a PHC, the Chairman of Alagbeji Community Development Association (CDA), Alhaji Adeyemi Sogunle, who has been agitating for the health facility in the community, said the community will appreciate the gesture.
His words: “I’m exceptionally delighted. He has made my life better by making my life dream a reality. My contention in life is to do something for my community and not what I get from the community. The place will be for everybody and not my family. It’s a great achievement that I must commend the council chairman for. I’ve been fighting for it since 2010.”
