Mr. Rotimi Adeniyi has recently stopped using the mirror because his reflection scares him – hollow eyes, wrinkled face and all
the external signs of ageing. The mirror reminds him of how gray he has gone and it worries him.
the external signs of ageing. The mirror reminds him of how gray he has gone and it worries him.
In
another year, Adeniyi will be 60 years old and also bidding farewell to
his life as a civil servant. So what really scares him
is not the mirror but the reminder of a dashed hope that has kept him
as a tenant. He has spent the better part of his life teaching at public
secondary schools in Lagos. A state government policy has ensured that
in the last few years, he never spent more
than six years in a school.
another year, Adeniyi will be 60 years old and also bidding farewell to
his life as a civil servant. So what really scares him
is not the mirror but the reminder of a dashed hope that has kept him
as a tenant. He has spent the better part of his life teaching at public
secondary schools in Lagos. A state government policy has ensured that
in the last few years, he never spent more
than six years in a school.
If
Adeniyi was asked about 10 years ago if he was still going to be a
tenant at his current age, he would have dismissed the notion
outright with a wave of the hand. It would have sounded silly to
Adeniyi because he had a plan in place to become a landlord and he was
saving to ensure that the dream became a reality.
Adeniyi was asked about 10 years ago if he was still going to be a
tenant at his current age, he would have dismissed the notion
outright with a wave of the hand. It would have sounded silly to
Adeniyi because he had a plan in place to become a landlord and he was
saving to ensure that the dream became a reality.
But
today, he looks back at how his hope of becoming a landlord in his
lifetime is being threatened by the Ogun State government.
today, he looks back at how his hope of becoming a landlord in his
lifetime is being threatened by the Ogun State government.
In
the hope of becoming a landlord, Adeniyi had joined a co-operative in
the school where he worked at the time – Itire Community
Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos.
the hope of becoming a landlord, Adeniyi had joined a co-operative in
the school where he worked at the time – Itire Community
Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos.
The
co-operative – Itire Community Secondary School Teachers Welfare Fund –
had bought land measuring 13.288 hectares at Gaun-un
town, close to Magboro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State
for interested members and Adeniyi had quickly subscribed to it.
co-operative – Itire Community Secondary School Teachers Welfare Fund –
had bought land measuring 13.288 hectares at Gaun-un
town, close to Magboro, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State
for interested members and Adeniyi had quickly subscribed to it.
For
Adeniyi, it felt like everything was falling into place at the right
time. He bought two plots from the land, hoping that one
of them would become the dream residence for his family and the other
his retirement benefit.
Adeniyi, it felt like everything was falling into place at the right
time. He bought two plots from the land, hoping that one
of them would become the dream residence for his family and the other
his retirement benefit.
“I
was so happy that I bought two plots; I wanted to build a school on one
of the plots. I thought that the school would be where
I would retire to after my years in public service. I was saving
N10,000 per month with the scheme and the co-operative bought the land
on our behalf.
was so happy that I bought two plots; I wanted to build a school on one
of the plots. I thought that the school would be where
I would retire to after my years in public service. I was saving
N10,000 per month with the scheme and the co-operative bought the land
on our behalf.
“The
land was approved by officials of the relevant agencies in Ogun State
government and we spent so much money to do the survey
and allocation to divide the land into plots for all of us. The state
government asked us to pay about N23m to get Certificate of Occupancy
for the land and we paid all the money, but since 2013, the government
has not given us the certificate.
land was approved by officials of the relevant agencies in Ogun State
government and we spent so much money to do the survey
and allocation to divide the land into plots for all of us. The state
government asked us to pay about N23m to get Certificate of Occupancy
for the land and we paid all the money, but since 2013, the government
has not given us the certificate.
“This
has really affected us as it has prevented us from building anything on
the land. The issue of ownership and documentation
is not clear and nobody wants to invest money in such a place because
without the proper documentation, government can choose to demolish any
structure there later,” he said.
has really affected us as it has prevented us from building anything on
the land. The issue of ownership and documentation
is not clear and nobody wants to invest money in such a place because
without the proper documentation, government can choose to demolish any
structure there later,” he said.
It
was learnt that when the Ogun State government in 2008 announced that
all owners of land in the state should ratify the land
titles, the co-operative was given approval by the Director of Lands
Ratification under the Bureau of Lands and Survey in the state and
encouraged to pay the sum of N23, 242, 000 as condition for the granting
of a Statutory Right of Occupancy over the land.
was learnt that when the Ogun State government in 2008 announced that
all owners of land in the state should ratify the land
titles, the co-operative was given approval by the Director of Lands
Ratification under the Bureau of Lands and Survey in the state and
encouraged to pay the sum of N23, 242, 000 as condition for the granting
of a Statutory Right of Occupancy over the land.
A
letter dated December 21, 2012 from the bureau stating the breakdown of
the amount that was required to be paid to the government
purse was given to the co-operative, a copy of which was obtained by Saturday PUNCH.
letter dated December 21, 2012 from the bureau stating the breakdown of
the amount that was required to be paid to the government
purse was given to the co-operative, a copy of which was obtained by Saturday PUNCH.
The letter was said to have been issued in respond to an application made by Itire Community Secondary School Teachers Welfare
Fund on December 30, 2008.
Fund on December 30, 2008.
The
letter, which was signed by Isq’eel Aboaba, the Director of Lands
Ratification on behalf of the Special Adviser/Director-General
(Lands), said, “I am pleased to inform you that the state governor has
graciously granted provisional approval for the ratification of your
right of occupancy in the parcel of land/property lying, being and
situate at Gaun-un town, measuring 13.288 hectares.
letter, which was signed by Isq’eel Aboaba, the Director of Lands
Ratification on behalf of the Special Adviser/Director-General
(Lands), said, “I am pleased to inform you that the state governor has
graciously granted provisional approval for the ratification of your
right of occupancy in the parcel of land/property lying, being and
situate at Gaun-un town, measuring 13.288 hectares.
“Consequently, you are hereby granted a Statutory Right of Occupancy over the said land/property subject to the following terms
and conditions.”
and conditions.”
According
to the letter, the conditions include paying a sum of N23.2m to cover
for Premium, Annual ground rent, Preparation fee
for Certificate of Occupancy, Registration fee for Certificate of
Occupancy, Government survey fee, Capital contribution and others.
to the letter, the conditions include paying a sum of N23.2m to cover
for Premium, Annual ground rent, Preparation fee
for Certificate of Occupancy, Registration fee for Certificate of
Occupancy, Government survey fee, Capital contribution and others.
It
was however learnt that in July 2018, some officials of the state
government informed some executives of the co-operative that
the delay in issuing the C of O was as a result of the discovery that
the said land fell within a proposed satellite town in the state to be
called Akute City.
was however learnt that in July 2018, some officials of the state
government informed some executives of the co-operative that
the delay in issuing the C of O was as a result of the discovery that
the said land fell within a proposed satellite town in the state to be
called Akute City.
“For
many years, we were going to Abeokuta (Ogun State capital) to inquire
about the status of application for Certificate of Occupancy
after paying over N23m and all we were told was to come back the next
day or the next week or be patient. But just last month, some government
officials told us that the state governor had not approved the
Certificate of Occupancy for us because our land fell
within Akute City.
many years, we were going to Abeokuta (Ogun State capital) to inquire
about the status of application for Certificate of Occupancy
after paying over N23m and all we were told was to come back the next
day or the next week or be patient. But just last month, some government
officials told us that the state governor had not approved the
Certificate of Occupancy for us because our land fell
within Akute City.
“But
nobody told us that when they ratified the land title and asked us to
pay over N23m to get Statutory Right of Occupancy over
the land. We paid the money in 2013 and after five years of wasting our
time and government holding on to our money, they are now saying a
different thing.
nobody told us that when they ratified the land title and asked us to
pay over N23m to get Statutory Right of Occupancy over
the land. We paid the money in 2013 and after five years of wasting our
time and government holding on to our money, they are now saying a
different thing.
“The
situation has caused me so much pain; it is as if my life has been at a
standstill. It appears that all my life savings are
going down the drain before my eyes and there is nothing I can do about
it. I hope Ogun State government will quickly clarify the situation and
give the Certificate of Occupancy for the land so that we can start
building on it before our time on earth comes
to an end,” Adeniyi said.
situation has caused me so much pain; it is as if my life has been at a
standstill. It appears that all my life savings are
going down the drain before my eyes and there is nothing I can do about
it. I hope Ogun State government will quickly clarify the situation and
give the Certificate of Occupancy for the land so that we can start
building on it before our time on earth comes
to an end,” Adeniyi said.
Similarly, the clock is ticking for Mr. Idowu Ajagbe, who is set to retire from his teaching profession in another two years.
According to him, the situation serves as a warning that his days in retirement might be spent in regret.
“I
bought a plot there with the hope that someday, I would leave the life
of a tenant and become a landlord. My plan is to build
a small house there and have a shop where I can sell goods after my
retirement. My retirement is just two years away and that dream is
looking more and more impossible to realise.
bought a plot there with the hope that someday, I would leave the life
of a tenant and become a landlord. My plan is to build
a small house there and have a shop where I can sell goods after my
retirement. My retirement is just two years away and that dream is
looking more and more impossible to realise.
“For
long, many people have said that the reward of teachers is in heaven
but some of us thought that we could change our story
and have our reward on earth. I believe that the reward of teachers
should be on earth and not in heaven as some people say. But now, we
don’t know our fate over the land. It brings the feeling that the future
is bleak. It is as if there is no hope. Ogun State
government has dashed our hopes,” he said.
long, many people have said that the reward of teachers is in heaven
but some of us thought that we could change our story
and have our reward on earth. I believe that the reward of teachers
should be on earth and not in heaven as some people say. But now, we
don’t know our fate over the land. It brings the feeling that the future
is bleak. It is as if there is no hope. Ogun State
government has dashed our hopes,” he said.
There
are 186 plots on the land with about 100 owners. It was learnt that
some interested persons who were not in the teaching
profession were also allowed to buy from the land when the co-operative
needed to raise the N23m required for the Statutory Right of Occupancy
over the land.
are 186 plots on the land with about 100 owners. It was learnt that
some interested persons who were not in the teaching
profession were also allowed to buy from the land when the co-operative
needed to raise the N23m required for the Statutory Right of Occupancy
over the land.
One of such persons is Mr. Wale Ogunfemi, who was a banker at the time; though, he is retired now.
“I
heard about the land from my brother who was a teacher at Itire
Community Secondary School at the time. So I bought a plot each
for my wife and me there, paying N600,000 for them. Since then, we have
paid more for other expenses like the Certificate of Occupancy.
heard about the land from my brother who was a teacher at Itire
Community Secondary School at the time. So I bought a plot each
for my wife and me there, paying N600,000 for them. Since then, we have
paid more for other expenses like the Certificate of Occupancy.
“We
are afraid to build anything on the land because whatever is put there
can be demolished by the government if there is no proper
documentation. We have been on the matter for many years now. It was
only recently that we heard the state government was claiming that the
land fell within a satellite town,” he said.
are afraid to build anything on the land because whatever is put there
can be demolished by the government if there is no proper
documentation. We have been on the matter for many years now. It was
only recently that we heard the state government was claiming that the
land fell within a satellite town,” he said.
Ogunfemi had also planned to build a house on his land and resettle his family there but the delay caused a setback for him.
“Some
people who bought land in adjoining communities years after I bought
my land are already living in their houses. My plan
was to build a residential place to live like a normal Nigerian but
with the problem with documentation, nobody will want to take the risk
of investing money there,” he added.
people who bought land in adjoining communities years after I bought
my land are already living in their houses. My plan
was to build a residential place to live like a normal Nigerian but
with the problem with documentation, nobody will want to take the risk
of investing money there,” he added.
A former President of Itire Commmunity Secondary School Teachers Welfare Fund, who has been handling the matter on behalf of the
members, Mr. Marcus Bello, told Saturday PUNCH that some of the affected members had been demoralised by the situation.
members, Mr. Marcus Bello, told Saturday PUNCH that some of the affected members had been demoralised by the situation.
He said the co-operative wrote a letter to the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, in 2016, pleading with him to look into
the matter but that neither was there a reply nor was any action taken to resolve the issue.
the matter but that neither was there a reply nor was any action taken to resolve the issue.
A copy of the letter obtained by Saturday PUNCH read: “We hereby write on behalf of the above named association to appeal
for the issuance of C of O of the parcel of land at Gaun-un town as shown in the government agency survey attached.
for the issuance of C of O of the parcel of land at Gaun-un town as shown in the government agency survey attached.
“The approval of the said land was issued on December 21, 2012 and the total amount payable of N23, 242, 000.00 has been fully
paid from the society’s contribution since 2013.
paid from the society’s contribution since 2013.
“All the teachers had moved to the land to develop their plots only to hear that the state government wanted to re-acquire the
estate.
estate.
“We hereby appeal to you to use your good offices to ensure that our lifetime efforts will not be in vain.
“The
appeal letter was written two years ago but there was no response
whatsoever and nothing was done about the problem. We appeal
to the state government to look into our plight,” Bello said.
appeal letter was written two years ago but there was no response
whatsoever and nothing was done about the problem. We appeal
to the state government to look into our plight,” Bello said.
Efforts
made to speak with both the Director-General of Ogun Bureau of Lands
and Survey, Mr. Biyi Ismail and the Commissioner for
Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, on the issue proved abortive.
made to speak with both the Director-General of Ogun Bureau of Lands
and Survey, Mr. Biyi Ismail and the Commissioner for
Information and Strategy, Dayo Adeneye, on the issue proved abortive.
One
of our correspondents visited the office of the DG on two occasions.
When our correspondent visited the office located within
the secretariat at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta on Friday August 10, 2018, he
was unavailable and despite a note on the land matter left with his
secretary, nothing came out of it.
of our correspondents visited the office of the DG on two occasions.
When our correspondent visited the office located within
the secretariat at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta on Friday August 10, 2018, he
was unavailable and despite a note on the land matter left with his
secretary, nothing came out of it.
Our correspondent repeated the visit on Wednesday August 15, 2018, and this time, the DG was in the office.
Our
correspondent filled the visitor’s form at the front office which was
passed to the DG’s secretary. After some few minutes,
the female secretary emerged from her office and told our correspondent
to go and speak with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
correspondent filled the visitor’s form at the front office which was
passed to the DG’s secretary. After some few minutes,
the female secretary emerged from her office and told our correspondent
to go and speak with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.
She said, “You need to go and see the Commissioner for Information and Strategy.”
Our
correspondent had earlier called the Commissioner for Information and
Strategy on the matter but he declined to make any comment.
Culled from:The Punch
