Lagos Agency, NTDA Alleged Of Harassment Of Citizens, Criminal Trespass

The officials of a Lagos State agency, New Town Development Authority, NTDA, has been engaging in what many would describe as a show of shame as the officials disrupt activities, harass and trespass into spaces approved by a sister agency, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK.

Some of companies who hitherto secured approval from LASPARK for the adoption, beautification and landscaping of the open space and have been under incessant disturbances, incursion and ‘criminal’ trespass of officials the NTDA include Hill Harvest Limited, Union Divine Link Limited and Banex Industries Limited.

In a letter written by the lawyer of the above mentioned companies, Muftau Olamide Maiyegun ESQ. and sighted by NewsBusiness Nigeria they are seeking the intervention of the Lagos State Governor, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State among others.

The letter titled; ‘Request for The Immediate Intervention Into The Incessant Disturbance, Incursion and Criminal Trespass of Staff of New Town Development (NTDA) on Parcel of Land Authorized by Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) reads in part “ Our clients and on whose directors’ tacit instructions we write your esteemed self this petition in respect of the afore caption in order to inundate you with the criminal and peace breaching activities perpetrated by the above stated agency and persons against our clients”.

According to the letter sometime in 2018, the above mentioned companies applied to Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) for approval for the adoption, beautification and landscaping of the open space (Buffer Zone) Opposite Maroko Police Station, along Lekki – Epe road, which was subsequently approved “via letter no: LASPARK/2333/VOL 1/26, dated 30th September 2020 granting approval to Hill Harvest Limited, letter no: LASPARK/2333/VOL 1/48, dated 19th September,2020 granting approval to Union Divine Link Limited, and letter no: LASPARK/2333/VOL 1/11, dated 19th September 2020 granting approval to Banex Industries Limited and all necessary payments were made”, the stated.

According to the Companies as at the time of approval, there were some artisans,(mechanics) on the said land, which they the companies only succeeded in removing on the 3rd of April, 2022 and suddenly the New Town Development Authority, emerged on 6th of April, 2022 with five trucks filled with fiercely looking policemen to harass, molested and forcefully chase out workers from the site.

It was gathered that the companies have sent some representatives to NTDA explaining that they were authorized by the Lagos Government to use that parcel of land to no avail, as they have continued to harass and intimidate workers at the site.

Meanwhile a call to the General Manager of NTDA, to get the agency’s side of the story was rebuffed. He insisted the he would not speak on the matter.

However while the show of shame continues as the two Lagos State agencies wash their dirty clothing in public, many think it is high time the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu intervenes in the matter.