Lagos releases white paper on Lekki unrest

Lagos state government has released a white paper on the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the causes of civil unrest at Lekki which claims the lives of Tajudeen Disu, the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ). Disu was killed last year during crises between Okunraye community in Lekki and LFTZ. But […]

Lagos state government has released a white paper on the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the causes of civil unrest at Lekki which claims the lives of Tajudeen Disu, the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ).

Disu was killed last year during crises between Okunraye community in Lekki and LFTZ.

But the white paper report has calls for the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to take over the investigation into the murder of Disu.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde who announced the release of the white paper in a statement on said Lagos government accepts most of the recommendations of the Tribunal.

Leaders of the Okunraye community where Disu was murdered on October 12, 2015 had claimed that the late Disu was killed by a stray bullet from mobile policemen attached to the area, while the police in turn issued a statement denying the allegation.

The State Government, in the White Paper, also directed the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives to ensure that all outstanding compensation issues are resolved as soon as possible.

The Ministry was equally directed to ensure that the Resettlement Committee is reconstituted in line with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding to enable it perform satisfactorily.

“A LFTZ Peace and Security Committee comprising of the Police and representatives of investors of the affected villages be constituted to receive complaints from any party in the zone and will also have further responsibility of taking action to resolve issues referred to, as spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding,” part of the report said.

The State Government also directed the Lands Bureau to give priority to preparation of Certificate of Occupancy of excised land.

According to the White Paper, the State Government accepted the recommendation of the Tribunal that under no circumstance should payments, irrespective of how insignificant it is, be paid in cash, adding that all payments should be by cheque, duly receipted by the payee in a format that carries the said payee’s name, picture and signature.

The government further accepted the recommendation of the Tribunal that there should be an effective mode of communication and dissemination of information amongst all inhabitants of LFTZ, and directed the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs through the Special Adviser for Communities and Communication to create a platform for regular dissemination of information