The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, has refutted the claimed that the government did not issue residents of Mende Villa Estate demolition notice.
The commissioner however, disclosed that two demolitionhttps://rocketparrot.com/news/demolitions-along-lagos-calabar-coastal-road-starts-saturday notices in 2021 and 2023 was issued to the residents.
The clarification became imminent following the allegations made by a property developer in Mende Villa, who claimed the proper notice was not given before the commencement of the demolition exercise.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Sunday, he insisted that the government authorities had issued contravention notices and marked the properties slated for demolition before the exercise was carried out on Saturday.
According to Wahab, his predecessor, Tunji Bello, served contravention notices in 2021 to property encroaching on the setback of the System One drainage channel in Mende Villa, Maryland, and upon assuming his role in Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
He added that the latest notices were issued to the developers in November 2023.
“If there were no notices, how come the Developer has been engaging us with documents and correspondences for the past month?” the commissioner queried.
Wahab further stated that the Lagos Civil Service consisted of the most efficient personnel who would never engage in practices capable of jeopardising their career and future.
He said, “I can say it boldly, we have the best of brains in the Lagos Civil Service and they will not joke with a process that can hurt them and their careers.
“We sat down for over a week and said, run through this process again; let us work back through this process. We’ve given them enough notice for this. Since the past two and a half years, he didn’t dispute the fact that we had to dredge the particular alignment.
“Let us leave out emotions and sentiments. We have a choice to make if we want this country to be good, if we want a better society, we need to take ownership of the truth. The truth is, they were served notices. They were engaging the government but they wanted to eat their cake and have it.”
He also urged those who feel their rights have been violated to seek redress through the court.
