Efforts to amicably resolve the long running dispute over the use and disposal of Federal Government properties in Lagos State got a boost yesterday following the consent given by the Federal Government for the acquisition and possible demolition of Ikoyi properties that are situated along the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge right of way.

The decision was made known in a statement jointly signed by Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, Secretary to the Government of the Federa-tion and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, under the auspices of the Federal Government-Lagos State Government Standing Committee on Government Relations.
Yayale Ahmed is also the chairman on the joint standing committee.

The committee stated that the Federal Govern-ment has no objection to the acquisition of its properties located on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge right of way by the Lagos State Govern-ment in support of the proposed bridge to be built to relieve congestion and traffic on the Lekki Highway and Victoria Island.

The statement, which named the properties to include No. 16 Ruxton Road and No 15, 38 and 40 Alexander Avenue, Ikoyi, however, said parties with established interests would be entitled to compensation.

The committee also announced that four of the Federal Government’s existing and disused jetties in the state would be released to the Lagos State Government.

The joint committee said, “the decision is for both administrative and governmental harmony and for the public good and interest.”
The released jetties include those at Marina in Lagos Island; Ijora in the Apapa Local Government Area; Ajegunle in Ajeromi/ Ifelodun Local Government Area; and Oworonsoki in the Bariga Local Council Development Area of the state.

The statement added that the Lagos State Government would assist the Federal Government in capturing the details of all Federal Government estates derived from public acquisitions in order to facilitate the issuance of subsequent titles to residents of the said estates in the state.

According to the statement, the Old Broad Street Prison will be handed over to the Lagos State Government, which, in turn, will assist the Federal Government in the construction of another prison facility in the long term.

Other recommendations of the committee approved by the Federal Government include that it would work together with the Lagos State Government in the clearing of abandoned shipwrecks and vessels along the state’s waterways using the state government to implement, where necessary.

The Lagos State Government would also undertake the repair of the expansion joints on axial bridges (particularly at Alapere) which the Federal Government team discovered is in urgent need of repairs.

The statement added that joint sub-committees on issues which are outstanding in ensuring smoother Federal Government-Lagos State Government Relations have also been established to propose solutions for pending issues in the longer term
“Inter-governmental relations and the resolution of issues in pursuance of good governance and the public interest is an on-going process,” the statement said, adding that the FG-LASG Standing Committee, whose tenure is 12 months, will continue to work in earnest while looking forward to future achievements.

The joint standing committee on the Federal Government-Lagos State Government Relations was inaugurated on the directive of President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, and has met on three occasions with substantial progress being made in the area of administrative and governmental harmony

It was set up primarily to resolve disputes between both governments over the lease/sale of Federal Govern-ment to private sector concerns and individuals during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=138056