Press Releases

Owner Of Removed Church On Obalende Canal Agrees To Relinquish Hold On Land

Jul 10, 2008 - The Presiding Bishop of the Dispensational Gospel Mission located on the Macgregor canal in Obalende, Bishop Peter Okoduwa on Thursday disclosed that he has consented to relinquish his hold on the land in Obalende to the Lagos State Government in the overriding public interest.

Bishop Okoduwa whose church structure was recently removed by officials of the Physical Planning ministry of the state for being on the drainage line at Dolphin Estate spoke at a joint press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa by officials of the Lagos State Government and representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

In his words; “The issues have been resolved. I have consented to relinquish my hold of the land in Obalende to the Lagos State Government in the overall public interest and the State Government has agreed to rehabilitate me”

Also speaking, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele informed that the removal of the structure of the Dispensational Gospel Mission was based on technical and environmental assessment reports which indicated that the building cannot continue to stand in the area.

He explained that this was informed by the fact that the continued existence of the building would impede the free flow of the drains of Ikoyi, Obalende , Dolphin Estate and its environs, adding that it was purely coincidental that the building was a church.

Barrister Bamidele added that since the government effected the removal of the structure which was carried out in the overriding public interest, it has been receiving representations from different groups on the way forward.

The Commissioner said the issues involved were beyond the demolition of the structure of Dispensational Gospel Mission but about ensuring that both parties involved in the issue were satisfied with whatever decision was taken.

In his contribution, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Francisco Abosede said the State Government decided to take a passionate look at the appeal of the owners of the structure because they had an approved Certificate of Occupancy. (C of O).

He said the State Government has had to contend with several cases of people who illegally procured Certificate of Occupancy on lands which had been earmarked for very different purposes such as the demolition of illegal structures in Ogudu on land which has been earlier earmarked for Fortune Estate.

He added that some of those who have fallen victim of such land are those who patronize omo oniles who hoodwinked them and some who employ ingenious architectural practices of flying their surveys to read some other areas from the original area where the land was located in order to obtain approved plans.

He disclosed that one of the major steps taken by the State Government to bring the practice to an end is the design of a cadastral map to include an actual mapping of all structures and buildings in Lagos State which is nearing completion.

The General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Mission, Reverend Wilson Badejo who was also present at the briefing appreciated the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for being a listening Governor who hearkened to the passionate appeal of the Christian community on the removal of the church building and ensured that the issue was amicably settled.

Apart from the Commissioner for Information and his Physical Planning counterpart, other officials of the State who attended the briefing were Special Adviser on the Environment, Prince Sesan Olanrewaju, Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Alhaji Gbenga Ashafa and Special Assistant to the Governor on Religious Matters, Rev Sam Ogedengbe

The Lagos State Information Commissioner reiterated that the present administration is totally committed to making Lagos flood free and in the process will deal with each situation in such a way to ensure that Lagos as a mega city does not become a mega slum.