Anguish as land owners demolish houses in Ilorin

…we have lost trust in govt – Allottees
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We’ll pay customary land owners, July
By Ahmed Ajikobi
Residents of old Kara market, Kulende area of Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State have been left counting their losses following the demolition of their houses by land owners.
The demolition of part of their buildings which include that of the Sobi FM boss, Lukman Mustapha was said to have been carried out last week following a court judgement.
During the exercise, some of the owners of the buildings reportedly fainted while an infant was said to have sustained severe injuries while sleeping inside one of the demolished structures. He was reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
When our reporter visited the area at the weekend at least 10 houses were affected even as some occupants were sighted collecting their belongings from the demolished buildings.
Speaking with the Chairman of Old Kara Market, Sango, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulganiyu Kadara said that, after the first demolition in February, series of meetings were held with Ilorin South Council boss, Hajia Funmilayo Ishola and the Director General, Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Salman Ibrahim.
“After the meeting, we were told that the state government have agreed to pay the land owners. We were told to pay N80 per square meter apart from the initial payment. Some of us paid up to N600,000 depending on the size of the land acquired.
“We were given a month to pay the money and they asked us to pay before April 15 which all the allottees agreed and we met the deadline.
“We held meetings in January, February and March and the DG Bureau of Lands and council chairman were given payment modalities finalised at our last meeting sometime in March.”
Speaking further, the chairman said the Kwara House of Assembly invited the allottees on Friday with the DG Bureau of Lands in attendance and other executives.
“Initially when we were invited some us did not want to go because we have lost trust in the government. However after several pleas from our colleagues we decided to join them.
“At the meeting, the government suggested again that each allottee should pay N50 per square meter in addition to the initial payment.
“We told them that we have lost confidence in the government after failing us thrice but we were told that the state government had contacted the lawyer of the land owners adding that they will pay the family.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairperson of Ilorin South, Hajia Salau, said the government is working on how to pay the customary land owners.
“The problem is that some of the community members are not ready to comply while others have paid into the account of the Bureau of Lands and we can assure them their money is safe,” she said.
Similarly, the DG, Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Ibrahim said that the allottees, the council and state government ought to pay certain sum of money to the customary land owners but the allottees reneged.
He added that because of the economic meltdown, the state government decided to pay the land owners instalmentally but the latter were uncomfortable with the arrangement.
“The customary land owners believed that if they threatened the allottees, government would be forced to pay the money. Some of the allotees were in dialogue with lawyer and have made agreement to pay N2,000 per square meter.
“The lawyer believed that if the government make part payment, they will not get the balance again,” he disclosed even as he added that government has again released part of the money.
Ibrahim stated that the Chairman Public Complaints Petition, Kwara State House of Assembly, Alh. Adebayo Mohammed has shared the percentage to be paid by the parties with local government expected to pay 20 per cent, state government 60 per cent and the allottees 20 per cent which should result to N80 per square meter.
“We had meeting on Monday with the Chairman Public Complaint, representatives of allottees and the family counsel to resolve the matter.
“We promised to pay the family the money available and contributions by the allottees. We told the lawyer to be patient as all the land owners money will be paid, July ending.”
Efforts to contact the, the Chairman Public Complaint Petition of the Kwara State House of Assembly, proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off as at the time of filing this report.