₦airaland Forum

http://www.theadvocate.ng/lagos-chief-of-staff-tayo-ayinde-fingered-in-land-grabbing-scandal/




The incessant issue of Lagos State officials meddling in the affairs of landowners and their wanton and indiscriminate destruction of properties among other vices was brought to the fore following an unauthorised demolition and sealing off of a property, belonging to Chief Adetunji Omisore and one Tajudeen Mohammed, at No. 4, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday July 19, 2022. #4Ladoke

According to Trixxng.com, fingered in this allegation and alleged to be playing prominently in this saga is the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State governor, Tayo Ayinde, the owner of Watercrest Hotel and numerous choice properties around the Lagos metropolis, who lives opposite the above-mentioned address, precisely occupying No.5, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja.

According to an information available to the press, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LSBCA, served the owner and developer of the said property a 7 day demolition notice on Friday, July 15, 2022.

On Monday, July 18, the developer approached the general manager of LSBCA, Gbolahan Oki, who was recently reinstated after he was suspended by the governor, for clarification on the illegal action. Note that the property in question is under the authorisation and jurisdiction of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Oki was temporarily booted out when a high-rise block of luxury flats under construction in the neighbourhood of Ikoyi collapsed, killing at least 42 people in November 2021.

The owners’ efforts to prove to the agency that they have the approved documents on the said land fell on deaf ears as the owner was kicked out of the office of the general manager and ordered to send the document through official channel channel the following day.

However, without waiting for the 7 day notice to lapse, on Tuesday, July 19, the agency moved caterpillar and black maria to the site to begin demolition of the over N500million investment as early as 6:00am in the morning, barricading the property while the workers were assaulted.

Not only were those who made attempts to record the illegal activities of the policemen attached to the governor’s office beaten, their gadgets were also confiscated.

It took the intervention of the Presidential Committee on Lease in Abuja to put a stop to the demolition after frantic calls were made to them. By then, a new six-bedroom bungalow, a penthouse, the reception of the hotel building among other things had been leveled down on the 3800 square metres property.

An official at the Lagos State Building Control, who craved anonymity, informed the media that Tayo Ayinde gave Oki directive for the demolition of the structure.

It was also alleged that after the sealing of the property when demotion was halted by the federal government, the Chief of Staff, who is also a close ally of the leading presidential candidate of All Progressives Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, allocated a portion of the property to a construction company awarded the contract of reconstructing the road covering the whole stretch of Ladoke Akintola Street, as site office.

From all indications, it is becoming glaring that Tayo Ayinde’s activities is allegedly adding to the long list of nefarious state-backed land-grabbing nightmares.

http://www.theadvocate.ng/laspppa-we-have-approvals-for-our-construction-developer/

A foremost real estate company in Lagos, Masters Reality Intl Concepts Ltd has reacted to an online media publication, alleging that the firm did not secure approvals before going ahead to construct two sites.

The company said this report published by Daily Post about the company should be ignored by the public: https://dailypost.ng/2022/07/20/lagos-govt-seals-shopping-malls-under-construction-warns-developers/

Reacting to the publication through a statement from its Public Relations unit on Friday, Masters Reality frowns at what it described as defamatory report, calling on media houses to always verify their facts well by hearing from the other sides and stop presenting unbalanced reports to the public.


The company, in the statement, stated that there is no iota of truth that the leading real estate company ran afoul of building law  by not obtaining building approvals for the development of two massive projects.
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The company wondered how it is possible for a leading real estate firm that has been operating without hassles for the past 24 years and well known for its different notable projects would now stoop so low and denigrate its image by undertaking building construction without seeking official permission.

The real estate firm added that since the inception of the company 24 years ago, it has  had robust relationships with Ministry of Physical Planning and urban development and other relevant building stakeholders.

It added that normally, issues might crop up, noting that little issues which came up in the recent days would be resolved amicably, adding that there should be no basis for such unethical, bias and defamatory news report  by the news media against the company.

An online news media (not theadvocate) recently published a report quoting the Director, Public Affairs Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Abimbola Emdin-Umeh, that Masters Reality didn't regularize the ongoing construction of Alade Market by obtaining permits and  approvals.

Emdin-Umeh was also quoted to have said that the company didn't secure approval for its gigantic project, called Triangle Business Plaza, TBP located at  Osapa London, Lekki-Epe expressway.

In the press statement, Masters Reality said that as a very popular real estate company that has been enjoying good name and reputation, did not and will never illegally break into a construction site sealed by a government agency,.

The press statement reads: "Masters Reality Intl Concepts Ltd a leading real estate development company in Lagos with a parent company doing business for the past 24 years.

"For the past 24 years, we have had a smooth relationship with Ministry of Physical Planning and urban development, but not until recent time.

"It added: "On Alade Market, contrary to report that we did not obtain approval before building we did obtained a provisional approval in year 2012, but could not commence construction as a result of protest from the market women that demand for a construction of relocation before the commencement of redevelopment which was done in 2016.

"The main construction commenced in 2019, but was aborted because Lagos State took 596sqm of the Land to reconstruct the Allen roundabout.

"This altered our design and new set of drawings were submitted but to our surprise we encountered continuous frustrations from LASPPA after paying the sum of N84million as approval fees and submitting all relevant documents 3 times.

According to the statement, the allegation, saying that the company illegally broke into a sealed construction site is very strange , mischievous and should be disregarded by the public.

The company said: '"On the issue of breaking of seal. There was never a time we broke the seal. On the three occasions mentioned, the site was reopened by LABSCA after payment of penal fees and also Engr. Omotoso SA to Governor on Special Duties. These are documented facts.

The company further lamented that up till now it has  not been compensated on the land.

Shedding light on the issue of Triangle Business Plaza TBP, the real estate firm said that contrary to the mischievous report that it didn't get approval, it said that approval was secured, but waiting for Governor's approval to waive IDC.

The firm added: " We informed the agency that since MInistry of Environment has given a condition precedent to granting of drainage permit, we will have to maintain the canal and also construct the adjacent road and we applied for a waiver to the Governor through the Ministry of Physical Planning.

"Recently, we received a letter from LASSPA demanding for additional payment of N44milion before final approval could be granted. We are resolving this in an amicable manner and we see no reason for this bad report.

It also said that concerted efforts are ongoing to clear the drainage at the area of Osapa London Lekki, where TBP is located as part of the company's  Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

"Presently we are collaborating with office of drainage services to clear the central drainage system at Osapa London Lekki in order to protect 17 communities which the drainage system serves.

The company said that any effort made to tarnish the good image of Masters Reality would be a fruitless exercise, considering the good reputation that it is enjoying and the great impacts it has made, which are very glaring.

Masters Reality said: "This onslaught by the agency to label us anti government will not achieve any reasonable means as the facts are glaring.

"We are not unaware of the gang up in government to frustrate of development but we say to them that public service is for public good and every effort to pick us against our valuable subscribers will be counter productive because at the end of the day, we all pay tax to the government. We pray that wise counsel prevails," it added.

When our correspondent made a phone call to the General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike to hear from their side, he refused to give the correspondent any information about the matter.

When the correspondent made him know that news is a like a  perishable item that must not stay long and that it would not cost him time to verify if truly Masters Reality made payment or not, he insisted that the agency doesn't give information through phone.