The wide expanse of land sits quietly, tucked between the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean in Gberefu village, Badagry. It is, without a doubt, a perfect milieu for its proposed use: a film city. Located off the Badagry coast, on a sandy stretch of land that had, ages ago, served as a route for local slaves on their forced voyage to the Americas, the whole environment is a perfect blend of history and culture.

This Friday morning, imposing coconut trees greet you as you alight from the speed boat to commence the 15-minute walk from the jetty to the ocean. From the distance, you glimpse one or two houses in the village, their thatched roofs jutting out of the bushes. On the narrow path to the Atlantic is a well described by the people as a relic of an infamous past. It is believed that captured slaves were forced to drink water from the well, after which they promptly experienced an absolute loss of memory.

Along the beach, a cluster of shanties awaits you, apparently domiciled by members of the Christian sects that daily crowd the seashore for some religious rites. And facing the ocean, obviously engrossed in a heated supplication with some supernatural being, some of the devotees in white outfits carry on with their spiritual endeavour, hardly bothered by the trespassing newshound.

But underneath this facade of a serene ambience, some turbulence silently brews. These days in Badagry, many indigenes are angry that their prized possession, the land for the proposed film city which is jointly owned by a number of families in the town, is about being taken away from them by the government without adequate compensation.

Yet, to think that the people are unhappy with the authorities over the purpose for which the land is being acquired would be an erroneous perception. According to a youth leader in the area, the people of Badagry are enthralled that such a big project is coming their way. The Lagos state government is said to be spearheading the project in conjunction with some private investors. But the community's uneasiness stems from the growing belief that the people of Gberefu and other land owners might be short-changed by some government officials in the payment of compensation. They also fear that the land might lose its intended use. According to them, the land might eventually be sand-filled and turned into an expensive sea-side estate for the rich and top officials of the government.

A young man, Bayo (last name withheld), confides in Daily Sun that that line of thought is gradually gaining ground in the area.

When, months into the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Lagos State government decided to set a film city project in a peaceful, beautiful part of the state, Gberefu village in Badagry was seen by the government as the ideal place. A committee on the Lagos Film City and Energy City projects was set up, and in January this year, the committee held a meeting with those considered as stakeholders in the film project.

At the VIP Chalet in Badagry between January 16 and 17, 2008, members of that committee, led by the state deputy governor, Mrs Sarah Sosan, held a meeting with community leaders, political leaders, traditional rulers and youth leaders in Badagry. Following that initial meeting, executive secretary of Badagry Local Government Area, Honourable Michael Zanni also set up a community liaison committee to act as the link between the community and the government on the project. In the five-man committee, which has Prince Yomi Ajose as chairman, is High Chief Menu Toyon 11, Mobee of Badagry Kingdom (representing the Akran of Badagry on the panel), Chief N.A.M Sanni, Numeton 1, Baale of Gberefu , Mr Willie Kudofokeh, chairman of the Community Development Council in Badagry, and Mr Uthman Suenu who serves as Secretary.

Daily Sun learnt that members of the committee subsequently held meetings with the traditional rulers, community leaders and members of the Technical Committee set up by the state government on compensation.

Members of the committee and the council's executive secretary, Michael Zanni, were said to have also met with residents of Gberefu, particularly those residing on the site for the proposed film city project to formally inform them of government's plans for their land. On February 7, this year, the committee held a meeting with the ancestral land owners of the proposed film city. On March 8, Zanni was said to have held another meeting with youths of Badagry to seek their understanding and support for the project. Ajose, chairman of the liaison committee, was equally said to have sought the cooperation of the youths.

A copy of the liaison committee's report obtained by Daily Sun and signed by all five members, notes that members of the Gberefu community are making some demands of the state government. According to the document, these include:

1. That the state government should make a reasonable portion of land available to the community for both the ancestral land owners and the villagers. They pleaded with the state government not to acquire the entire land at Gberefu without considering the local dwellers.

2. That the purpose for which the land was acquired should not be altered. The community demanded for a document assuring them on this demand from the state government.

3. That those displaced be provided with adequate and decent accommodation.

4. That compensation in form of equity in the business on a reasonable percentage be negotiated for the ancestral land owners. They emphasized that the state government should protect the interest of the community on the above issue.

5. That employment opportunity be guaranteed for the professionals, semi-skilled and unskilled indigenes of Badagry Local Government.

6. That the Lagos State Government should retain the name Gberefu, the traditional ruler, Numeton 1, Baale of Gberefu, his palace and traditional place of worship as a monument and legacy for posterity.

7. That modern facilities, including schools, roads, electricity, hospitals and water, etc, be provided for the people of Gberefu.

The committee, in its recommendations, suggested that the demands of the community on the Gberefu project be met by the state government, even as it stressed that matters concerning compensation and welfare packages “be transparent to the entire community and only a legitimate and recognized principal of each family be identified and publicized before any benefit is provided”.