Kunle Adelabu
Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, has assured that government is looking into the issue regarding the encroachment on the property of the Oriwu College, Ikorodu.
The State government has intervened in the matter, which has attracted condemnation from the old students’ association of the school and the general public, by issuing two notices on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
The notices, ‘Contravention notice’ and ‘Stop –Work Order’, were served on Oriwu College and those that unlawfully pulled down the college fence and erected a gate in its stead.
But contrary to the directive of the government in the notice that the contravening party should produce documents to back up its claim if the notices are disputed, failure of which the gate would be removed after 48 hours, the gate, which is said to have been unlawfully erected, was yet to be removed when THE IMPACT visited on the scene on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
It was also discovered that the two notices pasted on the gate have been removed, while some structures around the school fence that were marked for removal were also still very much intact.
When contacted on phone, Dr Salako, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, stated that the government has served necessary notices while investigation into the matter is ongoing.
He also hinted about a legal tussle over the land.
“The state government, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has pasted notices there (on the gate)”.
When informed that the controversial gate has not been removed despite the notices by the government, Dr Salako said that the government is still on the matter.
“No problem about it. We are still on the matter. We have served notices but there is a court order on the matter.
“As soon as our investigation is completed, you will be notified. Thank you for calling me”, Dr Salako said politely.
