By James Sowole
A property development organisation, Terrific Outfits Limited and Celebrity City Limited, has tasked family heads to collaborate with the government at all levels to curb incessant land-related crises in several parts of Nigeria.
The company said involvement of genuine family heads in land purchase and deals remains major measure to curb real property related violence that is common among the people.
The organisation, which is promoting two estate firms, advocated the measure at the inauguration of Celebrity Estate Project at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Speaking at the event attended by families of several villages, where the estates are located in Ogun and Lagos States, the Managing Director of Celebrity Estate Limited, Prince Osokoya Morenikeji, specifically expressed concerns on various unresolved issues in the two states.
Morenikeji said direct involvement of the family heads of land owners in deals became necessary so that the private sector can complement the state government efforts to ensure peaceful resolutions in matters of land ownership disputes, sales and property development in the two states.
According to the estate developer in a statement issued by the group’s Media Director, Shafe Ewuola, the land-related crises have contributed significantly to the crime indices of the two states, leaving a trail of killings, fraud, threats to life and property and huge economic loss.
Although, Morenikeji commended the pace-setting efforts of the Lagos State Government at curtailing the trend, he urged governments at all levels to be more decisive in dealing with promoters of land-related violence, while calling on family heads of land owners to collaborate more with the government to end such violence.
Morenikeji also criticised the common culture of celebrating individuals of questionable integrity while neglecting nation builders in various areas of endeavours.
He said the need to redirect the aspirations of Nigerian youths by immortalising credible achievers gave birth to the concept of the Celebrity Estate, which he said aimed to name its streets, gardens, parks and recreation centres after exemplary Nigerians.
The estate, sprawling over 1,000 acres within the Arepo and Ishawo axis, has a long list of Nigerian legends, both living and deceased, whose have recorded achievements in various fields such as sports, entrepreneurship, education, industrialisation, politics, and security services among others.
He said naming of streets and gardens among celebrities is seen as capable of inspiring human capacities development in profitable ventures and redirecting the energies of the youths from criminal activities.
The event was attended by Dr. Abayomi Aina, head of Arugboodo/Aboki and Lawani family of Arepo and Ishawo Village, Oke-Oko via Ikorodu, Shagamu Local Government Area, Ogun State; Mr. Kareem Enifeni, the family secretary; Mr. Sanya Bada, the family General Youth chairman, and Chief David Olalekan Orisan, Baale of Ishawo land and environ; Mr. Patience Okoh, Celebrity City legal adviser, and Mr. Ralph Nwafor, Celebrity City Limited project director, and other dignitaries.
