By Mary Ogedengbe/Lagos
Lagos has defied the order issued by the Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro, for it to stop the construction of 1,118 housing units in Ilubirin, a swamp reclaimed with sand where troops chased out builders early this month.
A section of Ilubiri.
The federal government says the land belongs to it.
Obanikoro allegedly deployed soldiers on the site on the grounds that the Lagos State government did not obtain permission from federal agencies, including the Ministry of Works, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) before commencing the project.
However, on a visit to Ilubirin, near Obalande along the third mainland bridge, TheNiche noticed that the contractor handling the project, Cyrou Turnkey Builders, has resumed work. Soldiers were not in sight.
The infrastructure of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), under which the houses are to be built, has been privatised.
A security guard on the site, an employee of the new owners, said whatever dispute Abuja has with Lagos over the land does not involve the company.
Before the state government began the construction, Ilubirin had provided cheap accommodation for thousands who could not afford expensive apartments elsewhere.
The displaced residents, who were paying N1,000 per month for a room in tenement accommodations, are banking on the promise by the state government that they will become landlords after the completion of the housing scheme.
However, Obanikoro, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, countered that they are being deceived as 97 per cent of them will not be allotted apartments when the new homes are completed.
Ilubirin was once a rowdy trading spot for wood, clothing, alcoholic drinks, food, fish and other petty wares.
It is now a deserted site, safe for the building work.
A former resident and trader who identified himself simply as Lekan, said: “We used to sell fish, dry gin and wood. And we had a lot of boating activities there before we were told to leave.”
Even though the state government has resumed work on the site, the project may still be stalled if Abuja decides to go to court.
Obanikoro says he wants to curtail Governor Babatunde Fashola, whom he accused of violating the rights and privileges of individuals and organisations.
Officials of Lagos State Land Bureau declined comment.
