Diaspora investors in Lagos residential land scheme accuse govt of deceit 

Diaspora investors in Oko-Orisan Waterfront Residential Land Scheme, Lagos State, have accused the state government of frustrating their efforts to develop their plots of land after making full payments.

Indeed, the investors claimed in letters addressed to the state government that they were issued allocation papers in 2012 for the plots of land purchased but denied physical allocation and possession for over 12 years.

They expressed fear of losing the huge money invested in the scheme advertised by the Lagos State Government with a promise to give them protection and rest of mind.

Subscribers to the scheme said they had become victims of what they now realised as an imperfect land administration system in Lagos State. They said they had become distraught from the frustration brought on them by the state government, which they ought to run to for succour.

In view of their disappointment and frustrations, many of the subscribers including Mr. Hakeem Ibrahim recently formed a group (Oko-Orisan Waterfront Scheme Subscribers Group) for the purpose of engaging with the state government.

Ibrahim said they were shocked to have been told in a response to their recent letter that the land scheme was being redesigned and remodelled.

He said they told that they would be informed of the outcome when completed, without anything suggesting a timeline when that would happen.

The LASG’s letter with reference number LU/OWF/RES/18/89, dated April 2, 2024, addressed to: “Oko Orisan Waterfront Scheme Subscribers Group, Attention Mrs. Akinloye states: Re: Demand for the Physical Allocation of Our Land Purchased from the Lagos State Government (LASG) in the Oko Orisan Waterfront Scheme.”

In the letter signed by A. Odukogbe, for the Executive Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee, Governor’s Office, Lands Bureau., the LASG stated, “We acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 20th March 2024, in respect of the above subject matter and inform you that the state government has embarked on redesigning and remodelling of Orisan Waterfront Scheme.

“In view of this, none of the allottees can take physical possession or process their respective Certificate of Occupancy until the conclusion of the exercise.

“Please be assured that all allottees will be contacted as soon as the exercise is concluded.”

The group’s response of May 8th to the LASG letter expressing regret over the lack of specificity on timelines in the LASG letter, was yet to receive any response from the LASG as of the time of filing this report.

“The group uses this medium to invite other subscribers to the scheme, both in Nigeria and abroad, to contact the group to enable us to leverage the strength in numbers to persuade Gov. Sanwo-Olu to address this injustice being meted out to us by the LASG,” Ibrahim stated.

He said, “In 2012, I purchased a piece of land in the Lagos State Government Oko-Orisan Waterfront Scheme in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Some other subscribers bought into the scheme as far back as 2010. The fee I paid for the plot was N3.8 million only, though I was receipted for only N3.3 million, out of the amount I paid.

“We were all issued original copies of allocation letters and official receipts from the Lands Bureau of the office of the Governor. My personal allocation letter was dated May 12, 2012. We have severally visited the appropriate offices of the LASG in Alausa, to inquire about progress, and the relevant officials of the LASG have always confirmed and assured that our documentations are genuine and valid.

“The challenge today, is since our consummation of the contract with the LASG, we are yet to be physically allotted our plots in the scheme.

“The official reason the government officials have given for this is that since around 2013, the scheme had been suspended to allow for redesigning. “However, unconfirmed reasons include the following – attempt by LASG to abandon the scheme to re-allocate the plots to wealthy and influential figures in society; attempt by LASG to move subscribers to a different and “less attractive” schemes/location, amongst others.”

The group requests the LASG, without further delay, to fulfil its part of the contract, “by responding to our request and allotting us our due plots of land per the contract we entered.

“We have expressed our disaffection in writing to the Office of the Special Adviser on Housing.”