No fewer than 10 buildings belonging to the Pure Fire Miracles Ministries (PFMI) in Lekki have been demolished by the Lagos State Government at the weekend. National Mirror gathered that the demolished buildings, which comprised six auditoriums, offices and residences were said to have been erected on the parcel of land earmarked for the proposed Lekki International Airport.

The airport, when completed, is expected to serve the Lekki Free Trade Zone and boost the state’s economy.

The church’s authorities valued the cost of the demolished property at N100 million. It was learnt that the state government demolished the church partially in December last year, but the authorities of the church obtained a court injunction to stop the government from further demolition of its property. But the High Court of Lagos last Thursday ruled in favour of the government.

The court ruling facilitated the weekend’s demolition of the main church’s auditoriums and several of its buildings by the officers of the Lagos Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit.

The task force was accompanied by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD) officials. Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, said that the land on the demolished structures were erected was illegally acquired.

Ayinde also said that there was no approval for the construction of the buildings in the first place, adding that notices had been served on the church to vacate the land.

He said: “We have served the church quit notices since 2011 and another one was served on them in November, which the church did not comply with.” But the church debunked the claim by the government that it had no approval, saying it bought the land following information contained in the Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 29, Volume No 27, September 1, 1994.

Meanwhile, a document by the legal adviser to the church’s pastor, Enoch Idowu Aminu of Probono Chamber, indicated that the land was bought from Ikujenya Okanlawon Ikuforiji Chieftaincy Family of No 3, Ikujenya Street, Bado Oke, Epe, Lagos State, on 21 May, 2010.


Source: http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/planned-lekki-airport-lagos-demolishes-10-church-buildings/