Chief Livinus Okwara, Director of Rimax Computer Institute

Business mogul and Director of Rimax Computer Institute, Chief Livinus Okwara has narrated how he has reclaimed his parcels of land which were compulsorily acquired by the Lagos State government.

According to Okwara, who is the Director of Rimax Computer Institute, the two parcels of land: 100×400 square metres and 400×400 square metres at Awoyaya Ilado in Lekki were compulsorily acquired by the Lagos government only to be given out to private individuals some of whom he said, eventually sold them to other people who never used them for such overriding public purpose for which they were acquired by the state government.

“Though I was able to get a landmark judgement recently after 12 years, through the court, returning the land to me and describing the state government action as illegal, unlawful, null and void, since the land was not used for the purpose of public interest but sold to private individuals. The fact remains that we have a lot of people in my situation who never have the wherewithal to seek such justice,” he stated.

Chief Okwara however noted that the judgement and subsequent return of the property to him will enable him to contribute his own quota to making lekki community a commercial hall.

“I think the state government should be thinking in that direction too. Lekki is too strategic to be left in a parlous state.

There is nothing wrong in making it a global commercial hub where traders and business men all over the world can fly in, transact business and leave. It should be able to have it own airport for easy entry and exit,”

He charged national and sub national governments to work within the law guiding land acquisition by ensuring such lands are used for public purposes.

He decried a situation where citizens’ land are compulsorily acquired by the state for overriding public interest without compensation only to be resold to chronies of such government. Besides being an abuse of privileged positions the chief stated that the action may also distort the original plans of communities where such land are acquired.

While recognizing the power of any government to acquire for ‘overriding public interest’, the entrepreneur however believes government should also ensure it works within the confines of what constitutes such public interest as stipulated in section 28 of the land use act.

“After the judgement, I’ve been able to negotiate with the occupiers. I have made them to understand that they can continue with their businesses, but be assured that there is a change of ownership as such a lease agreement has been signed for the first 20 years,” he said.