The Ogun Assembly has declared null and void, the notice of demolition/ acquisition served by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to residents of Itoki-Agbado-Ijoko, a border community between Ogun and Lagos States.
According to Mr Ganiyu Oyedeji (Ifo 11), who spoke under personal explanation during plenary in Abeokuta, the notice served was in preparation for the construction of light rail by Lagos State.
Consequently, the Assembly has called for the formal agreement between the two States through a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) with a view to ensuring that the required compensation is paid to property owners, whose structures may be affected in the course of the implementation of the proposed project.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, issued the directive, while responding to the submission of Oyedeji, who reported the unauthorized distribution of the demolition notice by LAMATA to residents of the areas.
Oluomo stressed the need for the governments of the two states to jointly agree on the modalities for the implementation of the proposed projects and how the affected residents would be properly and promptly compensated.
In another development, Oluomo has lauded the State Gov. Dapo Abiodun on the proposed road projects listed for construction and rehabilitation in the next year budget proposal.
He appealed to the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to take advantage of the present dry season to put palliatives on the failed portions of roads across the state, especially within border towns including Animasaun road in Sango-Ota, those within Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government and other parts of the State.
The Speaker, who stated this while responding to the separate submissions of the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff and Bello Atinuke, lauded Gov. Abiodun for adopting the Public-Private Partnership policy in infrastructural development, especially road construction.
He explained that the Animasaun road needed the quick intervention of the ministry owing to its socio-economic value to the State and other road users in the area.
Also during plenary, the Ogun State Senior Citizens Centre Law, 2021 scaled first reading on the floor of the House as the Clerk of the House and Head of Legislative Services, Deji Adeyemo did the first reading of the bill before the lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has played host to the Management team of the State Ministry of Budget and Planning led by its Commissioner, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, who briefed the lawmakers on the roadmap for harnessing demographic dividends in the State.