Residents of Gloryland Estate, in Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), of Alimosho, have urged Lagos state governor Akinwumi Ambode in a petition to save them from activities of land-grabbers (Omo-onile).
Property owners at Glory Estate are accusing Omo oniles in the area of selling Right of Ways (RoWs) under high tension wires to tipper operators who have invariably degraded the road infrastructure as well as pose security threat in the area.
The accusation was contained in their petition written under the aegis of the Glory Land Community Development Association, CDA, and addressed to the state government through the Ministry of the Environment.
Signed by the association’s Chairman, Mr. Olumide Adewale, the petition accused Omo oniles of illegal sales of government properties as well as constituting environmental degradation to the area.
According to one of the residents, Alhaji Lateef Olayinka, the dual carriageway that leads to federal sites and services scheme which also houses a federal craft centre for the blind has been completely taken over by squatters and land grabbers.
“Efforts by the community to fix the roads have been resisted by squatters and tipper drivers to whom the land grabbers had sold the road and setback. The roads have been completely taken over by illegal structures occupied by miscreants and people suspected to be Boko Haram squatters who snatch residents bags at night.
“The worst part is that the road is under the pipeline and power-line, but we now have permanent structures there, including residential houses and hotels. The kerbs used to demarcate the roads were excavated and carted away by the unscrupulous tipper drivers aided by Omo oniles.
“They have even encroached into the estate, selling government setbacks and this was the subject of a recent appeal to the Ministry of the Environment by the estate association,” he explained.
Olayinka added, “We, therefore, appeal to Governor Ambode to save our souls and by so doing protect the Federal and state governments institutions and sites in the estate.”
Governor Ambode had on August 15 signed the State Property Protection and Neighbourhood Safety Corps bills into law which stipulates a 21 year jail term for anyone convicted of land-grabbing.
