Homeowners jittery as LBIC gives ultimatum to certify lands
By Rasaq Adebayo
A 21-day ultimatum from the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) to homeowners at the Low Cost Housing Estate popularly known as Jakande Estate to certify lands on which they built properties is sending jitters across the neighbourhood.
A notice issued to the occupiers of the properties asked them to provide evidence authorising their occupation and or use by way of license, lease or allocation together with the proof of payment of ground rent for the purpose of verification.
The notice read in part: “In reference to our publication dated 14th July 2020 to notify all occupiers (other than Limited Residential Allotees) within the Lagos Building Investment Company Plc. Low Cost Housing Estate (generally known as Jakande Estate) to provide evidence authorising their occupation/use by way of license, lease or allocation together with the proof of payment of ground rent for the purpose of verification.
“We wish to inform the general public that Gatafis Global Investment Limited has been appointed by LBIC to act as a consultant on the regularisation/ratification of all properties that fall within LBIC acquisition at Oke-Afa, Isolo and Abesan Housing Estate, Lagos.
“The verification exercise commenced on Monday 7th December, 2020.
“Please be informed that this serves as a final notice for regularisation of tittles.
“You have 21 days from Monday 8th of February, 2021 to obtain your regularisation forms. You can obtain your registration form at LBIC offices Oke-Afa and Abesan Housing Estates.
The notice directed concerned parties to obtain the forms from the consultants, Gatafis Global Investment Limited at No 50, Mushin Road, Beside MRS Petrol Station, Isolo, Lagos.
“It is important that ALL persons concerned by the directive of the PUBLIC NOTICE comply with the dictates of the verification process.” It stated.
The occupiers of the properties in the Estate who spoke to LagosStreetJournal claimed that some of them had earlier paid N20,000 each to obtain form direct from the Lagos State Government for the processing of their certificate of occupancy (CofO).
They said they could not obtain another form from the LBIC consultants for the same purpose.
Those who have not obtained such form before claimed that the consultant has added extra N5,000 to the initial N20,000, making it N25,000 for the form instead of N20,000.
However, the consultant company explained that the addition N5,000 is consultancy fees.
The CDA Chairman in one of the affected areas who preferred anonymity confirmed that the affected lands are under acquisition because they have been granted ‘contempt to survey’ by the government.
He explained: “The local land owners sold the land to us with an evidence from their lawyer that confirms that the land has been granted contempt of survey which even the surveyor explained that such land would never be under acquisition if the government still need it.
“According to what we were told, we have to get ratification from the government before they give us Certificate of Ownership but the dilemma is that some people have individually gone to get ratification before LBIC consultant approached us, the consultant insisted that we still have to fill necessary form, make payment and provide some other documents before they could confirm if they had probably registered before which is the same process of what they’ve earlier done and, according to them, the LBIC payment is more than the amount they earlier paid.
In a phone conversation with one of the LBIC consultant officials, it was explained that any house where LBIC notification flier is pasted indicates that the owner of the building is encroaching on the LBIC property. The company, following the directive of Lagos State Government, has demanded that assumed owners should register their lands with the government.
“We the consultant demanded a re-registration which is in line with LBIC directive because the land is theirs in the first place. We have to keep record of those whom the land was regularized to and we issue appropriate document while we hand over the land to them appropriately.”
In addition, he disclosed that a staff from LBIC with the consent of the owner of the property would, after the revalidation exercise,visit the area as the coordinator of the land acquisition.
He, therefore, advised prospective land buyers to get more details from Lagos State Government building board and follow necessary registration before acquiring land from local sellers.
