By Suad Ayinla.
Edited by Bababunmi Agbebi
What does development mean to those who lose part of their land to make room for it?
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has answered that question again with the disbursement of more than ₦3.1 billion in compensation to over 300 landowners whose properties were acquired for public infrastructure projects across Lagos State. The presentation took place at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, where the governor said the payment reflected his administration’s commitment to fairness, transparency and responsible governance.
In the heart of Ikeja, the state’s administrative center, the exercise carried a clear message: urban renewal must not ignore the people whose lands make such projects possible. Sanwo-Olu said all claims were carefully verified through valuation and ownership checks before payment was approved, underscoring the government’s insistence on due process in land acquisition and compensation.
For many affected families, the cheque presentation was more than a policy event; it was the settling of a long-standing obligation and a recognition that public roads and infrastructure often come with private sacrifice. The governor also assured residents that the acquired land would be used strictly for public purposes and not diverted for private interests.
