By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Government, yesterday, directed aggrieved occupants of Mende Villa Estate, Maryland, whose houses were recently removed to seek redress with the Appeals Committee, if they feel they were unfairly treated.

It also approved the temporary relocation of occupants to a safer and more conducive housing environment.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide and Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said this during a ministerial press briefing to mark the first year of the second term in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office, at Alausa, Ikeja in Lagos.

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Olumide, while giving a scorecard of his ministry within the period under the review, urged the residents of Adeniji-Adele Estate, situated on the Island to relocate as the region is currently under water.

He said: “Those whose houses were removed in Mende Villa Estate do not have title documents. If you feel you are unfairly treated, approach the Appeals Committee set up by the Lagos State Government which was set up as an interface between the Government and the people.

“Do Mende Villa Estate occupants whose houses were removed have a title document? The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources asked them and they couldn’t answer the question.

“If you have approval, approach the Appeals committee, if you don’t have a title document, you cannot have a building approval.”

On building planning permits, Olumide said within the period under review a total of 5,961 planning permits were granted out of the 8,042 applications representing 74.1 percent.

On his part, the governor’s Special Adviser on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Babatunde, who gave a scorecard of his office, said: “To be candid, based on empirical studies, the entire Adeniji-Adele area is under water and flood-prone unfit for habitation.