[News] Magodo: Lagos government to allocate lands at Shangisha to judgment creditors

The Lagos government has announced that it has reached a settlement plan for Shangisha landlords and the judgement creditors who have laid claim to the land where Magodo estate phase two is located.

Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos commissioner for information and strategy, said the agreement was reached after a meeting the governor had with representatives of the police, Magodo Residents Association (MRA) and the Shangisha landlords at the government house on Wednesday January 5.

Upon identification of available and accessible land, the state government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 judgment creditors.

However if there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 judgment creditors, the state government, in agreement with the judgment creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.

The statement read;

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MEETS WITH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE MAGODO SHANGISHA DISPUTE

At a meeting chaired by Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola-Sanwo-Olu, at the State House Alausa, on the 5th of January 2022 with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the F.C.T Command and Police Headquarters, the Executive and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior Government Officials, the enforcement of Judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on the 10th of February 2012 in suit no. SC/112/2002 was deliberated upon and the following resolutions were arrived at:

1.      That the Committee set up by the State Government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022.

2.      The Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.

3.      The Committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land.

4.      Upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.

5.    In the event that there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 Judgment Creditors, the State Government, in agreement with the Judgment Creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.

6.    Whilst this exercise is ongoing, the Nigeria Police are to restrain themselves from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo. They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law – always. All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.  

7.      The meeting ended with Mr. Governor thanking all for attending and restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all.

8.      The attendees praised the Governor for showing “good leadership”, which they said prevented violence in the estate. Besides, they expressed confidence in the Governor’s ability and sincerity to resolve the matter.

Magodo Residents Association (MRA) also confirmed that an agreement was reached after the meeting with the governor. Residents of the area were asked to remain calm.

The statement read;

“Dear Residents, with the invitation of the Lagos state Governor,  Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday scheduled for today in respect to the invasion and siege by Chief Adeyiga and others and the Nigeria Policemen from Abuja, we are glad to inform all residents and good people of Magodo GRA phase II that the meeting was a very successful and favourable one to us all and the parties involved,” the statement reads.

“In attendance from MRA was Chairman of MRA and his team, some members of the intervention committee of MRA and the BOT Chairman.

“Mr Governor listened and was able to pronounce a favourable settlement plan for the judgement creditors (Adeyiga and others ). This covers the state government offering them landed properties and he formed a committee headed by the AG of Lagos state and some key members of his cabinet who will start work immediately by this Friday to identify landed properties to the judgement creditors in locations that will be advised within the state.

“Once all formalities are done, the invasion into our estate will come to an end and no property in Magodo phase II will be disturbed.”