We are Not Land Grabbers, Says Promoters of Lagos Ferry Terminal

A Lagos businessman and estate developer,  Hakeem Alobo Bakare, has denied allegations of land grabbing levelled against him by the authorities of the Lekki Residents Association (LERA).

Bakare who is the promoter of the Lekki Estate Ferry Terminal Limited, said neither he nor his company was involved in land grabbing regarding the site of the Lekki Estate Ferry Terminal project.

Reacting to the allegation by the Chairman of the Lekki Estate Residents Association (LERA), Mr Yomi Idowu, that he led some people to forcibly take over the land last Friday, Bakare said:” On July 29, 2020, we applied to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that we would want to be allocated a piece of land within the pavilion at Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 to build a ferry terminal for the use of the people within and around the axis. The step is to support the Lagos State government’s multi-modal transport system. The only jetty serving the area is the Five Cowries Jetty in Falomo, Ikoyi.

”Governor Sanwo-Olu graciously approved the request and government agencies such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Waterways Authority, and the Office of Public Private Partnership among others were mandated to go into working on the project with our team. At the end of the day, a concession agreement between the Lagos State government and Lekki Estate Ferry Terminal Limited was signed by the parties on August 19, 2022.

“Our company has 60 per cent ownership of the firm and the Lagos State government has the remaining 40 per cent. The contribution of the state government is just the land they are allocating for the location of the project. We paid N5.87 million to get the Certificate of Occupancy for the site. When LERA raised the issue of conducting a Traffic Impact Assessment, we paid N1 million out of the N1.5 million demanded.

“Also, because LERA claimed the land was allocated to it by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2006 for use as a park, the Lagos State government, through the Office of the Surveyor General was mandated to conduct a survey of the land and divide it among our company and LERA and that was done. A copy of the survey was given to us and LERA,” he explained.

He alleged that LERA has not made any payment since 2006 to indicate any intention to exercise rights over the land.

Bakare expressed surprise that after buying boats and other items valued at over $5 million, and with about N15 million worth of building materials deposited on site, LERA and some people would still want to stall the project.

“When they came to stop our workers on Friday, we did not argue with them. We know that it is a legitimate project that will benefit many Lagosians and even the state government. We have written the Attorney General of the state and we are waiting for their next line of action,” he said.

Bakare, who produced documents to back up his claims, including the agreement with the Lagos State government, said it was unfortunate that a noble effort by him and his company in conjunction with the Lagos State government is being frustrated by some people.

 Idowu and LERA alleged that when the state government allocated the land to them in 2006, it was with the provision that no permanent structures should be put on it.