The forum revealed how their land has been taken over by the Lagos State government through an agency, the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), headed by Mr. Aboyeji.
The people of Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos have voiced their frustration, lamenting years of suffering in silence without any assistance from the state government.
In a statement signed by the President of the Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, Wale Agoro on Tuesday, the natives expressed their grievances over the lack of basic infrastructure and essential services such as schools, electricity, hospitals, and clean water.
“We suffer neglect, no school, electricity, hospital, drinkable water, exposure to environmental hazards, source of livelihood destroyed,” Agoro said.
The forum revealed how their land has been taken over by the Lagos State government through an agency, the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA), headed by Mr. Aboyeji.
“Lagos State Government through an agency, NTDA headed by one Aboyeji takes over our land, shows no concern about our plight but uses police to maliciously prosecute natives for asking for their rights,” the statement added.
Agoro further explained that despite the $100 million land deal struck with Aliko Dangote for his refinery, the native communities of Ibeju-Lekki have been left uncatered to.
"In fact, Ibeju-Lekki is now referred to as a captured local government, whose landed properties and vast resources are used to compensate those in government or close to government," Agoro said, highlighting the discontent among the people.
One of the most pressing issues is the prolonged power outage in the area.
"For years, the community has struggled with irregular power supply, leaving homes, businesses, and public services in disarray. Despite numerous promises from both local and national politicians, the situation has not improved," the statement read.
The statement also condemned the use of police to suppress the natives, claiming, "The NTDA of Lagos State government uses police of AREA J, ELEMORO, AKODO and that of the Lagos State Taskforce to suppress indigenous people of Ibeju-Lekki and deny them their constitutional rights of ownership to their land."
The statement reads, “Weeks after they were invited by the Department of State Service (DSS) over their involvement in the Freedom of Information (FOI) suit against Lagos State Government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Accountant General and Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Land for the release of information regarding the $100 million paid to the state government by Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the building of his Dangote Refinery, the Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum says it has suffered neglect for long without helpers in a state claimed to be the largest economy in Africa’s most populous country.
“This latest outpouring that is the first time a major public cry would be coming from the native organization was contained in a statement issued by President of the Ibeju-Lekki Peoples Forum, Mr. Wale Agoro, dated Sunday October 8, 2024 and circulated to the media in Lagos.
“In fact Ibeju-Lekki is now referred to as a captured local government, whose landed properties and vast resources are used to compensate those in government or close to government,” Agoro said.
“According to the statement, natives and residents of the Ibeju-Lekki area have taken a firm stand, declaring that ‘Enough is Enough!’ in response to the prolonged power outage and lack of adequate electricity infrastructure in their community, despite the huge revenues generated by government from the sales of their land to their cronies.”
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