Shammeh defends disputed property, woos shop buyers

By Damilola Kushimo

The chairman of Isolo LCDA, Hon. Shamsudeen Olaleye (Shammeh), has cleared the air on the disputed landed property on which the local council built a shopping complex, stating that the aggrieved residents were acting out of ignorance.

He told the prospective buyers of the shops to disregard the residents’ statement, encouraging them to take early advantage of the property.

Shammeh condemned the claim by some residents of Adebisi Omotola Street that the land on which the shopping complex is built is a setback that belongs to the community.

The residents had discouraged the prospective buyers of the shops from engaging in the transaction, threatening to drag the local council to court.

Responding to the claim which he described as baseless, the council chairman said the acclaimed setback is owned by the government and had shown compassion on the previous occupants illegally squatting on it and turned the place to a point of insecurity.

He explained further that after taking over the place for development, the Lagos State Governor intervened and urged the council to help the squatters to relocate to another place which the council did.

He insisted that the so-called setback is within the compound of the council secretariat, very close to the perimeter fence of the secretariat, adding that it does not belong to any individual resident of the community.

He maintained that the council has not encroached on any person’s property, insisting that the land was legally acquired by the council.

According to him, the place has to be taken over by the government for development in line with its responsibility, saying the place was opened up to promote commercial activities in the area and also ward off miscreants who used the place as their hideouts as street light will be provided.

Shammeh said apart from developing the place for commercial activities, it also serves as a revenue-generating asset for the local government.

The council boss, who said the local government is not afraid of the court threat by the residents, noted that the council had invited them to a discussion where they could be briefed and enlightened more about the government acquisition of the land but refused to honour the invitation.

While denying the contravention of building law as accused by LABSCA, the council boss said the agency acted out of order based only on the petition written by the residents.

He said the agency did not verify the truthfulness of the issue as the council had been processing all the required documents from the state government for the building of the structure before it acted.

While urging the prospective buyers of the shops to hasten their transaction, he called on the residents to engage the local government for a better understanding of the issue before heading to court.

“We have a team of legal officers in the local government who have thoroughly gone through what the law is saying about issues like this. Before we took actions, we took legal opinions. If they say they’re going to court we can’t stop them, we shall equally make our representation. But if they see that this local government is here to serve them and has been serving them in all other areas and they want to be supportive residents, they can come here and we will make things clearer to them.

“I will advise intending shop owners to come up and take advantage of the opportunity the local government is offering them by opening up that place. If you go there you will see that a good building structure, well ventilated, secured and modern business place has just been opened there so they should discountenance the advice of residents who according to the law have no locus standi to challenge the government. The government in this place is on good and legitimate footing over what we are doing.”