Immigration Lawyers

Olasunkanmi AkoniLagos

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State have faulted the planned transition of the old Federal Soldier Government Secretariat, in Ikoyi to a residential flat by some private investors saying that was a misdemeanor of the state physical planning law.

Fashola who expressed concern over the development at a mass media conference at the state House Marina, clarified the stance of the state authorities on it, stressing that was what necessitated the halt work order by the state government.

The governor's comments came on the heels of the broad spreading studies that Lagos State authorities was not investors friendly because of its anti-investment moves in recent times.

It will be recalled that some private investors had earlier taken over the direction of seven of the Federal Soldier Soldier Government's places in Lagos State with the program to convert some of the constructions which was initially meant for business office usage into residential apartments.

While answering inquiries from newsmen, Fashola who condemned the program in strongest terms, stated that Lagos State Government would not hold to the program by the investors to convert the secretariate to residential apartments, adding that the topographic point was not originally built for residential purpose.

He said it would be incorrect for any investor to monkey with the original maestro program of Lagos State without the blessing of the state government, adding that the issue of urban renewal is the residuary duty assignment of the state government.

According to him, the proper pattern to decide issue of places is for Federal Government to fall back to the state for blessing but not that the investors would travel ahead to make whatever they like.

His words: "I will wish to state very clearly that Lagos State promotes investing especially in the proviso of lodging and infrastructure, but investors must run within the law or any ordinance of our state. Investors themselves cannot come up to a lawless state and make business. The issue of planning is clearly an unquestionable legal power of Lagos State . We are saying no to the transition of the secretariate to a residential apartment. It is a simple inquiry of law and order but not of emotion.

"We acknowledge that FG have got some assets and places in Lagos, we make not difference this fact, but we are aware that some of the determinations that have been taken in relation to the direction of those statute titles are sub-judice because they are topics of litigation.

"I desire to state very clearly that from clip this state was created in 1967 and uptill today, the appropriate pattern is that whenever the FG desires to make anything be it route building or any activity, it fall back to the state for approval, because planning blessing and urban control and development is within the residuary authorization of the state government And the authorities in complaint should not vacation spot to this propaganda."

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He argued that for the secretariate to be converted to a residential apartment, the state authorities would be forced to pull off the waste material material that would be generated by the residents; supply security, good schools and infirmaries for them, adding, "Do the investors have got got programs to pull off the waste that volition be generated by the occupants.

had violated the original plan, adding that authorities would not let the same thing to happen at the secretariat.

"People have now converted Ikoyi to offices, thereby disrupting its original maestro program and causing great environmental catastrophe in the area," he noted.