Ikoyi, Banana Island, Festac, Trade Fair belong to Lagos Govt - Okunnu

…Urges FG to release abandoned, surplus assets to Lagos

…Says He’s saddened by current state of Federal Secretariat

…As Ambode receives report of committee on federal assets in state

Elder Statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Femi Okunnu on Tuesday expressed sadness over the current status of the Federal Secretariat in Lagos and other abandoned and surplus assets of the Federal Government in the State, urging that the assets be returned to the State Government for effective and proper usage.

Okunnu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke at Lagos House in Ikeja while presenting the report of a Special Committee which he chaired set up by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Federal Government Assets in the State.

He said the whole of Ikoyi, Banana Island, Osborne Foreshore, Festac Town, Satellite Town, Trade Fair, among others belonged to Lagos State Government, and title of the lands were vested in the Governor of the State, urging the Federal Government to handover the assets to the State Government.

Okunnu said the issue of Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi was particularly saddening to him for the fact that it was during his tenure as Federal Commissioner for Works that the structure was constructed.

“Federal Secretariat gives me sadness because I built it when I was the Federal Commissioner for Works. The land upon which the secretariat is situated is part of the Crown land now State land. The title is vested in Lagos State but when he was Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier General Omobola Johnson (Rtd) agreed to release that land to Federal Government when they wanted to build Federal Secretariat.

“Today, I don’t like to pass through that side because it gives me sadness anytime I see it in the current state.
“It is not only the quarters but the land on which many of these buildings in the areas are situate. In our Committee, We have tried to argue that the whole of Ikoyi with the boundary at Lagos Canal standing between Ikoyi Island and Lagos Island, title to the whole of the Island is vested in the government of Lagos State when Lagos became Crown Colony. The whole of Ikoyi including Osborn Foreshore, Banana Island, and others belong to the State Government,” Okunnu said.

Going down memory lane, Okunnu said the title to the whole of Festac Town was vested in the Government of Lagos State and that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) remained the tenant of the State Government, same as Trade Fair.

“Lagos State Government acquired the Land of the Trade Fair site but Federal Government took over the land and gave a promise to pay the state compensation which was to be paid to the original owners of the land but that compensation was not paid. Today, the Trade Fair has been turned into market far from the original purpose intended.

“Satellite Town too is vested in Lagos State. It is the Federal Government which should prove title to any land which it claims to own in Lagos State, but I will like to urge the Federal Government to return the lands to the State Government,” Okunnu said.

He said during the course of the Committee findings, several government agencies were contacted including Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, as well as Ministry of Defence, among others, expressing optimism that the State Government and the Federal Government would find a lasting solution to the issue.

“We hope that discussions between Lagos State Government and Federal Government over Federal Government lands and state lands within Lagos, as well as over disuse or surplus lands which Federal Government especially Defence and Prisons are still occupying in Lagos, and are now surplus to requirement, will be held to settle this palaver once and for all,” Okunnu said.


Responding after receiving the report, Governor Ambode commended members of the Committee which included Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; Partner of SimmonsCooper, Mrs Victoria Alonge, among others, for the painstaking efforts put into the report, saying that their passion in ensuring that the State Government recovers its lands, buildings as well as disputed quarters were very much appreciated.

He said the report came at a time when the State Government was in dire need of space for developmental projects that would improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its residents in line with the realities of present times, adding that such projects, when embarked upon, would help to reflate the economy and improve the GDP of the State.

He said: “It is our hope that this initiative will put an end to the long-standing dispute between Federal and Lagos State Governments over the Federal Government disused lands and buildings and disputed quarters in various parts of the State which are no longer in use for the purposes for which they were originally released to the Federal Government

“We are hopeful that this report will get favorable response from the Federal Government especially given the fact that the Honourable Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was a passionate advocate of this issue during his tenure as the Governor of Lagos State and is also now a representative of Lagos State in the Federal Cabinet.”

Besides, Governor Ambode directed members of the Committee to move further by mediating between the State and the Federal Government on how the assets would be released to Lagos State.

Source: http://www.stelladimokokorkus.com/?m=1

cc: lalasticlala, ijebabe

Nice one

Waiting for the useless children of hate to come and claim it as usual

Bloody flatinō land grabbers

Where are the hateful Igbos? Lagos has caused immense psychological problems for the average Igbo !

Good one from my brothers.

neoShinto:

Waiting for the useless children of hate to come and claim it as usual

Bloody flatinō land grabbers

Eru.


I hope u don't die on igbo matter. They may or may not own Lagos, but I bet your miserable life, they have grabbed enough land to sustain them and there family.

Oponu aridin from abule eleko somewhere in Ibadan claiming Lagos.

chibuzorAbia:
Where are the hateful Igbos? Lagos has caused immense psychological problems for the average Igbo !

Good one from my brothers.

When they descend on u now.. U will say they are aggressive.


Is like u want to hear your family ORIKI.

Blackfire:




Eru.


I hope u don't die on igbo matter. They may or may not own Lagos, but I bet your miserable life, they have grabbed enough land to sustain them and there family.

Oponu aridin from abule eleko somewhere in Ibadan claiming Lagos.

I'm not a Lagosian

But why you wan die on top my comment

Funny how useless flatinōs keep claiming Lagos, I thought you were descendants of Jacob. It's like you people are lost or something

Lost jews from potopoto republic of West Africa

Restructuring Nigeria

I have often told those who care to listen to even define what they mean by restructuring and I can't seem to get answers. Or where we get, the answers are discordant and often tending toward federalism resource control and such.

What I understand it to mean is that we operate a truly federal system of government where every component part controls their resources, have their domestic laws, have their own police, the legal system, their own tax systems etc.

The states should be federating units donating some of their powers to the FG to hold and use in trust for them on matters of common interest such as defence, foreign affairs, citizenship, immigration, currency and economy etc
Let us adopt the USA model. USA practices federalism.

Restructuring or federalism are totally different from the call for cannibalisation of the country. Restructuring or federalism howsoever called is not the same as secession.

Suffice to say that when Lagos State Government took the federal government to the Supreme Court several times to insist on the practice of federalism from control of physical planning, local government administration that led to the withholding of Laos State revenue allocation, to issue of land abutting the waterways, control of inland waters, VAT, and many other issues , those states and zones where the call for restructuring are the loudest today sadly all opposed the position of LASG at the Supreme Court on the altar of politics. We may go back and read those judgements for confirmation.

LASG won 12 of such cases and against the FG at the Supreme Court. That was the beginning of some elements of federalism and restructuring without calls to war or secession.

I recall that I had to lead speak on behalf of LASG in the company of Dr Akeem Olajide Bello, then an adviser to the governor on Legal matters at the Senate hearing on the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and made a robust presentation for state control of Inland Waterways and total repeal of the Act on behalf of Lagos State.

A then top ranking and very outspoken and visible Senator from Enugu State was the most vociferous opponent of our position. He even said publicly at the hearing that Lagos State was being too cantankerous and asked insultingly if Lagos was the only coastal state or with waterways in the country that it was so cantankerous on the issue. This is a man whose state has rivers that could be of economic benefits to his state and people. I educated him before his colleagues and the public in a fine and polite language that he was not fit to be a Senator. I also recall telling him that if he and his state don't know the rights of his people and state, we in Lagos did and would assert same using the law. I asked him if he was proud that by the National Inland Waterways Authority Law his people in Enugu state will need to travel to Lokoja to obtain licences to own and operate fishing canoes on the rivers and streams in the state. I felt he was very disappointing and was betraying his people.

The senator, who sought to be Governor, is today one of the major voices and sponsors of secession and restructuring mixed up.

Lagos State House of Assembly subsequently repealed the National Inland Waterways Authority Act and promulgated the Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority Act and took control of the Lagos Lagoon and its intrastate waters. There were objections and protests from such bodies as Nigerian Ports Authority and NIWA. Lagos called their bluff and challenged them to go to court. Lagos used the instrumentality of the law, legislature and intellect to take its destiny in its hands and assert its rights. It was the series of litigation by LASG that has now effectively handed physically planning and land ownership back to the states.

Before then, the FG was giving planning permits for buildings in places like Banana Island and Osborne Foreshore and in many states of the country on lands that they called federal land contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act. Before then the FG was issuing Certificates of Occupancy on land in the states. Before then the FG made a decree which vested and made it to own all lands that were within 100 metres from the shore of lagoons, rivers and ocean including the palace of the Oba of Lagos and all lands on Marina, around Bar Beach, River Niger and Benue, Oji River, River Imo, Oguta Lake, Kaduna River to mention a few. Before then, FG had absolute control over even water streams and rivers in the villages and states. Before then FG had land registries in the states. Before then, the FG acquired land in states without resort to the state governments.

I even recall that the FG was planning to develop the 2nd phase of Banana Island. It was going to sand fill some waters of the lagoon. Lagos insisted that it must get a permit and environmental impact assessment approval from it. The FG insisted that it can reclaim the water because it had control over the outer waters in Lagos State. Lagos then told the FG that once the water is reclaimed and becomes land, it will be vested in the Governor of Lagos State by virtue of the Land Use Act. The FG simply disappeared with its tail between its legs. That is using the law and the brains.

Today, if the FG acquires land in Lagos, it must obtain the governor's consent;
Today, if the FG wants to build in Lagos, it must obtain LASG approval;
Today, the FG cannot regulate adverts on federal highways or roads in Lagos, it is the LASG;
Today, the Lagos waterways are busy with boats, yachts and hovercraft registered and licensed by Lagos Inland Waterways Authority;
Lagos has had a consumption tax in place without allowing VAT stand in its way. It used the law and brains;
Lagos collects Wharf Landing fees from all sea and land ports in Lagos State;
Lagos collects advertisement income from all federal highways and roads in Lagos along with the local governments;

Lagos used the law and good thinking to acquire all lands and open spaces under bridges from the FG. They are all today beauties to behold from the days when FG allowed all sorts to happen under them when they were let out as garages and car parks.

But for the good thinking and law, Lagos may not have been able to recover Oshodi. And all these also bring in substantial revenue to the state and yet we still wonder why Lagos State has a monthly Internally Generated Revenue Income of well over 30 billion Naira. Over 6 times more than what it gets from the federal allocation that some others are crying over as their sole source of revenue . And we still wonder why it is the 2nd largest economy in West Africa, only after Nigeria and self-sustaining?

Let all states put on their thinking caps and use the law, legislature, judiciary, intellectual power to achieve the control of their destinies and resources and not by beating drums of war and secession. It shouldn't be by force or might. Let's use our brains and intellectual resources to achieve federalism.

Babatunde Ogala Esq

chibuzorAbia:
Where are the hateful Igbos? Lagos has caused immense psychological problems for the average Igbo !

Good one from my brothers.

Hehe

They're all on death row in Malaysian and Chinese jails

neoShinto:
I'm not a Lagosian

But why you wan die on top my comment

Funny how useless flatinōs keep claiming Lagos, I thought you were descendants of Jacob. It's like you people are lost or something

Lost jews from potopoto republic of West Africa

E pain am.

Oro dun omo ale.

Blackfire:





E pain am.

Oro dun omo ale.

Ahhh

E ma gbami keh

This one is high o

FG must not hand over Festac Town to LASG. That's my hood mehn! Okunnu dey craze?

Beremx:
FG must not hand over Festac Town to LASG. That's my hood mehn! Okunnu dey craze?

Your hood in BIAFRA? Behave yourself or find yourself in Awka.

Federal govt should not give up any single federal asset in any state..Infact they should build more festac, trade fair ad ikoyi in other states ad make it a nogo area for local ad state govt..Many hausas,ibos ad many other tribes live peacefully in the area he mentioned,maybe they want those areas so they can harass ad lord over other tribes the way they do in mile12 ad co ad destroy lives ad properties at will the way they did in ife.

Too many tribalist.... the man only made a request and we end up deviating and calling in people to quarrel with.

Who does that?

Esseite:
Too many tribalist.... the man only made a request and we end up deviating and calling in people to quarrel with.

Who does that?

Exactly the point, someone stated something very important, and some myopic persons decides to forget the issue at hand and entirely go haywire, insulting others not even mentioned in the post. so much illiterates in this forum.

Remove Festac from that list. Afonjas are not welcome in Festac. If you cross our Festac bridge you will die. Ambode will fail on this one. Festac is not for afonjas period!! Quote me and your family will die before December.

SIRmanjar:
Federal govt should not give up any single federal asset in any state..Infact they should build more festac, trade fair ad ikoyi in other states ad make it a nogo area for local ad state govt..Many hausas,ibos ad many other tribes live peacefully in the area he mentioned,maybe they want those areas so they can harass ad lord over other tribes the way they do in mile12 ad co ad destroy lives ad properties at will the way they did in ife.

And who would stop lasg? You just Pray Buhari does not die because if Osinbanjo rules for just two month as actual president then we would use that time to get everything we want from d presidency.

Statsocial:

And who would stop lasg? You just Pray Buhari does not die because if Osinbanjo rules for just two month as actual president then we would use that time to get everything we want from d presidency.

Ohk!let's see ad mind you am yoruba.I know how oppressive my people are..I have stayed in kano ad aba they don't over tax in those area but we yorubas enjoy over taxing non indigenz even fellow yorubaz.