Ogun Communities Allege Unfair Lotto Interchange Alignment: Over 1,000 Landlords Face Uncertainty

The Ogunrun Ori Community is grappling with anxiety and uncertainty as the Lotto Interchange Bridge project progresses along the bustling Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. With more than 1,000 landlords in the community facing the imminent demolition of their buildings, the stakes are high for those whose homes fall within the alignments of this critical infrastructure project.

While the community acknowledges that the Lotto Interchange project serves the broader public interest, their primary grievance centers around the compensation process. Initially, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing had assured affected building owners of adequate compensation to facilitate their relocation. However, a recent twist has left many landlords bewildered and concerned about their future.

The Ogun State government has stepped in, intending to take over the compensation role from the federal authority. This unexpected shift has left elderly landlords – some in their 60s and 70s – in a state of confusion and distress. Losing their homes, which represent life investments, is a daunting prospect for these residents.

Several streets and estates within the community bear the brunt of the project’s impact. Among them are:

Divine Mercy Estate, Ogunrin Street, Kehinde Street, His Grace Estate, Olowo Street, Leko, Araromi Streets.

Additionally, neighboring communities such as Pakuro, Shimawa, Lukosi, and Gbegbira also find themselves affected by the proposed interchange bridge.

The affected residents are appealing to the Federal Government to honor its promise of compensating the owners of marked houses. Adequate compensation would ease their relocation and mitigate the adverse effects of the ongoing infrastructure project. As the situation unfolds, the community’s plea for fair treatment deserves urgent attention and resolution.