Zonal Chairmen demand self-built shops

Most of the chairmen of the 39 zones of the Jakande Estate, Ejigbo are proposing that the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) lease land to them at a price and give them specifications to build shops individually instead of buying them from developers.

They fear that the cost of shops built by developers may be beyond their pockets, noting that many of them have retired as pensioners and lack the funds to foot the cost of such shops.

They spoke at a parley organsed by the LBIC to engage the stakeholders on the introduction of shops in zones on Thursday.

Introducing the concept to the stakeholders at the parley, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan said he believed the introduction of shops built and allocated by the LBIC would save millions of naira lost by residents due to frequent demolition of shops built as illegal structures and bring huge investment to revive commercial activities in the 37 year old estate.

He said he has advised the LBIC that ownership be restricted to the residents of each zone, adding that applicants would be recommended by the chairmen of zones and community development associations.

His address was corroborated by the Managing Director of the LBIC, Mr. Tobi Lawal who was represented by the director, estates, Mr. Tosin Olugbile.

Olugbile said the LBIC adopted the concept to ensure a uniform structure of shops on the estate, improve the aesthetics of the environment and respond to the yearning for shops by the residents.

But no fewer than eight chairmen of zones who spoke in response complained that the 2016 demolition of shops left in its wake agony and pains whose scars were still felt and that LBIC did not implement promises to provide infrastructures.

They said the LBIC should lease the portions to be used to erect the proposed shops to them and give them specification to build because it would be cheaper than buying from developers.

Mr. Kayode Popoola said every allotee believed he is entitled to a shop, adding that since it would be difficult to provide shops for each allotee, building 10 shops per zone will start a trouble that would be difficult to resolve.

ECHONEWS gathered that a major factor in the reaction of allotees to the introduction of new shops by the LBIC is the fear that shop spaces which they had taken over informally would be retrieved for the projects.

Some of the shop spaces, which were demolished in 2016, have been re-erected with collapsible materials by their owners but would no longer be allowed if the shops to be built by the LBIC see the light of day.

There was also a silent power struggle among different groups opposed to the emergence of Alhaji Isiaq Lawal as the new president of the Estate Landlords & Residents Association.

They believed the executive committee led by Salami would be enriched with the proceeds of the project and were vehement in blocking the advantage it would confer on their opponents.

Others felt they were not recognized in the initial stakeholders meeting of the leaders and elders to discuss the project and swore to show they had the clout to frustrate it.

The report of the parley is to be delivered to the LBIC management soon and there are indications that the agency empowered by the Law to manage the estate will still call another meeting to iron out the differences.