While it is no more news that the international chain store brand, Shoprite has taken over the massive secretariat structure of the Ikorodu local government secretariat along TOS Benson road, what is news however is that the local government have now been served a notice to quit the property on or before Monday, 11th June, 2018.
This ‘quit notice’ which was yet to be sighted by Ikorodu Oga Radio, we learnt was served on the local government executive as well as its tenant-agencies from the state and federal government.
In an apparent confirmation of the notice to quit, management of the local government in an unsigned release, circulated majorly on social media stated that,
‘With the permission and directives of the Chairman, Ikorodu local government, Hon Wasiu Ayodeji Adeshina, (under the Lagos State Government’s Watch), we announce the official relocation and movement of the council secretariat from its present location (T.O.S Benson Road) to a temporary site (Lagos Road) from Monday, 11-06-2018. All staffs and concerned partners are informed of this development. All in the interest of Ikorodu’ the statement reads.
There have been torrents of reactions, majorly criticisms and condemnation of the latest development on the local council secretariat, as many stakeholders wondered why a government property will be relocated for what should be a private business concern.
A prominent community leader, who pleaded anonymity also condemned the development, wondering why a business as massive as Shoprite will be sited directly opposite the community general hospital, which according to him will eventually create avoidable traffic gridlock, particularly when emergency cases are involved.
Others queried what will become the fate of original family owners who initially ‘donated’ the land to government for the building of the secretariat now that it has been converted to private use.
When contacted on phone, an official of the local government, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the development confirmed the relocation and added that there will be a stakeholder meeting with the developers on Monday, 11th June, 2018.
What remains unclear is whether or not members of the general public and concerned stakeholders are invited to the meeting or not.
