Fashola orders churches, squatters to vacate his alma mater

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo
LAGOS — Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Tuesday, ordered all illegal occupants and owners of structures to vacate the premises of his alma mater, Birth Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos.

This came as the governor, while commissioning the N295 million Cocoa Industries Road, Ogba, called on corporate organisations to continue to partner with his administration in the provision of socio-economic infrastructure.

On the evacuation order, Fashola said the development would see the demolition of three churches, including Peace of God Mission Church, as well as houses which sprung up within the large compound of the school.

From left: Mr Abmbola Sodipo, Snr Special Adviser on Taxation and Invesment, Lagos State; Mr. Feyi Dinyo, President, Old Boys Association of Birch-Freeman High School, BIFOBA; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Mr Ladipo Lewis, Vice President, BIFOBA, and Oloye Nurudeen Olubiyi Agoro, the Ojon of Lagos and other old boys of the school during the commissioning of 21-classroom block at the school, yesterday. Photo: Diran Oshe.

The governor, who gave the order when he handed over a new block of 21 classrooms and other facilities built for the school, said he would stop at nothing to ensure that every inch of land belonging to the school was recovered.

He said the drainage work required to solve the constant flood during rainy seasons would necessitate the need to recover the land initially owned by the school

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to notify all squatters or occupiers of land that belongs to Birth Freeman High School, that the trespass ends today and your relocation must start henceforth as I intend working with the Old Boys Association to reclaim and return to the school every inch of land that used to belong to her.”

Fashola also said the new blocks of classrooms were borne out of the infrastructural decay that had hit the school which, according to him, formed his character as well as leadership and punctuality values he was exhibiting today.

The governor was a student of the school from September 1973 to June 1978.

At the commissioning, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, who represented the governor, explained that in spite of the efforts of his administration, areas requiring action were many across such sectors as education, health and roads.

He noted that the call for partnership was not unique to the Nigerian environment, adding that there were private roads maintained by communities, even in advanced countries.

He noted that the administration would continue to encourage private sector to support the government.

Culled from : Vanguard