It was excitement galore as hundreds of land owners in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFZ), as the news of N747m compensation was approved by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The total sum of N740,461,432.00 as compensation for host communities of Parcel B comprising Yegunda, Abomiti and International Airport site of the Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), was approved, thus, put an end to agitation by the affected land owners.
“We are happy that we have Ambode as governor at this critical time when many of us are old and our only means of livelihood appeared gone. But as fate will have it, acquisition of the land turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as we collect the compensation, our children are in best position to take gainful employments as factories and other businesses continue to grow,” Chief Bakare Adeyemi, a community leader in the area said.
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Rotimi Ogunleye, who announced the approval by the governor, said the development was in line the commitment of the Ambode administration to engender a sustainable cordial relationship between the host communities and investors in the LFTZ.
Ogunleye, who addressed the media alongside the Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investments Limited, Dr Tunde Sodade, among others, said ever since coming on board, Governor Ambode has put in place a more holistic view of the issue of compensation to the host communities, adding that remarkable progress had been recorded in that regard.
He said already, modalities were being put in place to ensure hitch-free payment of the approved N740 million, adding that the payment would be effected with immediate effect.
Ogunleye said the compensation exercise was a continuous process, revealing that N65 million was paid early this year for land owners affected by the ongoing Dangote projects which included petrochemical plant, gas project, fertilizer and refinery project capable of refining 650, 000 barrels of oil per day.
“Let me reiterate once again, the commitment of this administration to Community Social Responsibility (CSR) and its readiness to continue to heed the yearnings of our people in the areas covered by the LFTZ and its complementary projects. I also need to assure both local and foreign investors that all our projects in the corridor are fully on course and as an administration; we are fully committed to them,” he said.