Tension reigned at Osborne Foreshore Phase II Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, when the Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat and a team of government officials were held up for nearly 30 minutes when the gates of the disputed property were closed during an inspection visit.
Kenshad International Limited, a developer accused by residents of alleged planning violations and environmental violations, is the subject of a dispute over a construction project and its potential impacts on drainage, flooding and residents’ safety, The Guardian reports, with residents expressing concerns.
Hamzat, who led a high-powered delegation to the estate after complaints by locals, could not approach Abba Court, the development on Mahogany Close, because the entry was closed.
The development raised doubts among residents, with one asking: ‘Why did he refuse to let the deputy governor and his staff in if he had nothing to hide?’
However, the managing director, Kenshad International Limited, Ken Ukaoha denied purposely keeping out the deputy governor, saying the location was shut because of a government circular directing workers and other individuals to remain away.
He further said he was not in Lagos at the time of the occurrence and that he had not been officially informed that the deputy governor or any other government official was coming to visit the property.
Nobody locked the deputy governor out of the site. The site was locked as there was no one at the place. They circulated a circular indicating we were meeting. So everybody was gone. “It was a construction site, and there was nobody there,” he added.
The row followed concerns by homeowners who accused the developer of carrying out building work that could damage the estate’s environmental integrity and safety.
At a meeting with Hamzat, tagged Osborne Phase II Residents and Public Leaders Dialogue, residents claimed Kenshad International built on high-tension electricity lines, laid concrete slabs across a canal and carried out sand-filling activities that narrowed existing water outlets. Access to Services
They claimed the alleged blocking of the canal could disturb the normal flow of water, exacerbate drainage difficulties and expose the estate and neighbouring communities to flooding.
Residents reportedly accused the developer of installing an unlawful rear gate to allow suspected goons into the estate to frighten people challenging its actions.
They also accused troops, policemen and some officials of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of been utilised to harass and threaten them.
Residents have called on the state government to investigate the allegations against the company and its owner, Ukaoha, especially the context of a purported joint venture with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which they said was being used as a justification for the development.
They called on the government to investigate whether the project met all required planning, environmental and safety rules.
To this, Hamzat said he was not happy with the developer’s action and promised to look into the complaints of the people on behalf of the state government.
He argued that land use, physical planning and development control were topics that fell within the purview of state governments. Access Services
The deputy governor used Supreme Court precedents to argue that the federal government could not take over the activities of a state town-planning body or issue building approvals in place of the relevant state agency.
He assured the people that the administration will evaluate the issues expressed and take necessary measures.
Among other government officials and political leaders, Hamzat was accompanied by former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni representing Lagos Central Senatorial District; Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Ukaoha portrayed the situation as a tussle between his company and an adjacent property owner, emphasising that the claims of canal obstruction and land grabs were inaccurate.
He said he personally paid for the development of part of the drainage infrastructure on the estate, including a stretch around Royal Palm, on the controversial drainage channel.
Canal in question, that, while I am talking to you, I did the canal with my money. The Royal Palm, half of which I paid for myself,” he added.
He further said the said canal was not connected to any other drainage channel, noting that his company had carried out drainage operations in the area with the cooperation of government officials.
The developer also said his company had obtained the requisite government approvals and paid the relevant fees for its building activities, and had not flouted any law.
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