Lagos reaches agreement with Shangisha Landlords over Magodo Estate

Respite may have come the way of embattled residents and property owners in Magodo Phase II Estate, Lagos, following a peace meeting convened by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Magodo Phase II Estate had been besieged by the Shangisha Landlords Association, backed by armed policemen from Abuja, while trying to enforce a Supreme Court judgment ceding certain number of plots of land to the association.

The action naturally triggered a backlash as the entire estate rose to push back the evaders. In the ensuing confusion the governor had to personally intervene, to broker peace.

He met with all the stake holders on Wednesday at the State House Alausa, to deliberate on the enforcement of the judgment of the Supreme Court, delivered on the 10th of February 2012, in suit no. SC/112/2002, as it affects the Magodo Estate.

In attendance at the meeting chaired by Sanwo-Olu were the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) and their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the F.C.T Command and Police Headquarters, the Executives and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior Government Officials.

READ: Police officer defies Sanwo-Olu over Magodo Estate land tussle

According to a statement issued Wednesday by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, the following resolutions were arrived at:

1. That the Committee set up by the State Government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022.
2. The Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.
3. The Committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land.
4. Upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.
5. In the event that there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 Judgment Creditors, the State Government, in agreement with the Judgment Creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.
6. Whilst this exercise is ongoing, the Nigeria Police are to restrain themselves from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo. They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law – always. All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.
7. The meeting ended with Mr. Governor thanking all for attending and restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all.
8. The attendees praised the Governor for showing “good leadership”, which they said prevented violence in the estate. Besides, they expressed confidence in the Governor’s ability and sincerity to resolve the matter.