By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Kwara State Government will today (Monday) pay the second instalment to the customary land owners of the Old Cattle Market at Sango, Kulende area of Ilorin, the state capital.
It would be recalled that a number of occupants of the area were displaced sometimes in May after the land owners decided to demolish some structures following court order citing failure to meet financial terms for the land by the state government and the landlords.
The state government which had earlier taken up 70 per cent of the money to be paid to the customary land owners through their counsel, Akin Akintoye I was said to have paid the first instalment, last month.
Speaking on the development, the Director- General of the Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Ibrahim Salman said that the state government during a recent meeting struck an agreement to pay the land owners in three instalments.
“We have paid the land owners through their lawyer in June and we are billed to pay the second instalment this July while the last instalment will be paid in August,โ he said adding that allotees are to pay their own part of the money directly to the family.
When contacted, the land owners’ counsel, Akintoye confirmed the earlier payment saying they await the second and third payment in subsequent months.
Similarly, the Chairman Public Complaints Petition, Kwara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Adebayo Muhammed said though the state government has agreed to pay 70 per cent while the allottees are to pay N250 per square meter.
โWe tried to plead with the customary landowners’ counsel to reduce the amount being charged by square metre on behalf of the landlords.โ
Speaking further, the lawmaker affirmed that the second instalment will be paid to the landowners today through the family lawyer.
When contacted, Secretary of Old Kara Market Residents, Amasa Salihu, disclosed that the allotttees are determined to meeting their own side of the bargain.
