Sanwo-Olu unveils two-year plan for Lagos projects, as state govt seeks Supreme Court interpretation over ruling on Magodo Eastate

Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says 2022 and 2023 will be a harvest period for Lagos to reap more dividends of democracy, particularly in the area of infrastructural projects.

The State Government had fast-tracked the completion and delivery of key infrastructure, which includes Imota Rice Mill, 27-kilometre Blue Line and 32-kilometre Red Line rail projects.

This is also the State Government has opted to approach the Supreme Court to seek interpretation to its ruling on Magodo Estate controversy which has pitched it and residents, on one side, with the land owners Shangisha Landlords Association, on the other side.

At the opening session of the 17th Executive and Legislative Parley organised for all elected public office holders in Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his government was more committed to the present and future than the past.

The Governor shared the strides recorded by his administration in the previous year and review upcoming programmes for more impactful results in a statement released on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile.

The Statement was titled, ‘Infrastructure Delivery: ‘Lagos in its Harvest Period’- Sanwo-Olu’.

Sanwo-Olu said the parley was organised with the ultimate goal of seeking inputs of critical public sector stakeholders and creating strategic ways to implement ideas that would alleviate the suffering of the masses, while also improving life quality, as well as economic development.

He stated that the executive arm, which he leads, had consistently thrown its doors open to diverse opinions and views, noting that the forum had become a part of the government’s effort towards distributing development across all parts of the State.

“This administration, from the outset, did not delude itself into thinking it had the monopoly of knowledge with regards to finding the right solutions to the myriad challenges confronting the state.

“This explains why we have consistently thrown our doors open to diverse opinions and views from various sources, while also creating a forum to rub minds with all critical stakeholders with a view to achieving the Greater Lagos of our dream.

“The remarkable strides attained in the last two and a half years would have been impossible, but for the efforts of everyone gathered at this forum today. The past year was particularly remarkable for us in our aspiration to improve infrastructure across the state, many of which have been commissioned, thus giving Lagosians a new lease of life.”

Meanwhile, the State Government, Friday, returned to the Supreme Court despite the court’s initial ruling on the occupation of Magodo Estate.

Amid the contention over the ownership of the land; the Federal government accused the Lagos State Government of delaying the enforcement of the February 10, 2012, judgment in suit no. SC/112/2002.

“The judgment was a reaffirmation of the judgments of the Court of Appeal and High Court delivered on 31st December 1993.”

Following Governor Sanwo-Olu’s intervention, Lagos officials and representatives of the Shangisha Landlords Association, (the judgment creditors); held a series of meetings.

However, there was a division among the judgment creditors as to who controlled, or had the right to represent the Association, as well as, the demand by the judgment creditors that a single global Certificate of Occupancy should be issued in the name of the Association as opposed to the position of the State Government that each of the 549 members of the Association would be given allotment letters.

Consequently, the Lagos State Government approached the Supreme Court to seek further directives and clarifications on both issues.