Re: Urban Jungle Indeed!
By Segun Ayobolu
Permit me to correct the mistaken impression created in the Thursday, June 24, 2004, edition of Olusegun Adeniyi's column, that the Lagos State Government is violating its own law and therefore contributing to the problem of flooding in the state through indiscipline. Segun specifically stated that the football field in his estate (Abraham Adesanya Estate, Ajah) "was sold by the Lagos State Government to a member of the State House of Assembly who is now building a skyscraper on it". Continuing you noted that "it is this same attitude that led to previous governments selling spaces on which there are canals thus creating the problem that has now turned the whole of the Island to an environmental nightmare".
Following investigations ordered by the Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ascertain the truth, it is obvious that you got the facts wrong. The land you referred to are plots 11-14 of Block G on Abraham Adesanya Housing Estate. As can be easily verified from the estate's master plan, the plots are for residential use. They were never meant to serve as a football field.
Perhaps the misconception arose from the fact that the Portakabins used for storage of materials, during the construction of phase one of the estate, were placed on these plots. It was when the Portakabins were removed that children on the estate converted the open space to a football field before the commencement of the ongoing development on the land. The piece of land in question, measuring 38m x 36m, is clearly too small to serve as a football field. Besides, it is surrounded by roads which make it unsafe for such a purpose. Furthermore, the plots in question were not sold to any member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Rather, those allotees who had earlier paid deposits for houses before inflationary spirals drove up the cost were allowed to utilize their fund in building their houses which, however, must be in strict conformity with the masterplan. The structures being developed on the plots are, therefore, bungalows and not a sky scrapper.
The Lagos State Government appreciates the watchdog role of the press and will take decisive steps to sanction any official who colludes in violating the environmental and physical planning laws of the state.
Ayobolu is Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor.
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