Controversy Trails Demolition of Crystal Shopping Complex as Kwara Govt Cites Land Use Violation

Date: 2024-10-08

As reported by Punch, a controversy has erupted in Ilorin, Kwara State, following the late-night demolition of the Crystal Shopping Complex on Sulu Gambari Road, owned by All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former House of Representatives member, Moshood Mustapha. The demolition, which took place around 10 p.m. on Sunday under tight security, has sparked allegations of political vendetta and legal violations.

Moshood Mustapha, while condemning the demolition, described the act as politically motivated. He claimed to have obtained proper government approval for the construction of the shopping complex and argued that the state government's actions were unjustified.

However, the Kwara State Geographic Information Service (KW-GIS) responded with a statement signed by its chairman, Sulyman Andulkareem, asserting that the land had originally been allocated for a car park, not a shopping complex. According to KW-GIS, the development of corner shops on the land violated the approved land use and constituted a breach of the state's urban planning regulations.

Legal and Political Repercussions:

The incident has raised questions about the role of political influence in urban development and sparked public debates about governance and property rights in Kwara State. The security presence at the scene of the demolition further fuels speculation about the political undertones of the government's actions.

He said, “The Kwara GIS is removing the Crystal Corner shops because new findings show clearly that the owner grossly violated the government's Land Use approval issued to the owner on March 22, 2013.

“The approval was for a commercial 'car park only.'

The agency also added that “the illegal building conspicuously creates obstacles for urban planning, road expansion and environmental protection, key features of the urban renewal programme of the government”, noting that, “It is trite to say that a land allotted for a car park cannot and should not become corner shops which it became overnight.”

The agency said tenants occupying the shops had been asked to remove their goods, adding that the ongoing urban renewal programme was in the best interest of the public.

“The programme is neutral to affiliations as many defaulting properties had earlier been removed for similar reasons, and it will be unfair to give preferential treatment to any structure above the larger interest of the public”, it added.

Nonetheless, the government's explanation notwithstanding, Mustapha, in a viral video posted from The Netherlands late on Sunday, said the demolition of his building was politically motivated as the government gave a three-hour eviction notice to the tenants on Saturday and demolished the building on Sunday night.

“Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq demolished my property because of the little political disagreement I have with him. Though we are both members of the APC, I disagree with him because of his one-man show of running the state government and his low performance.

“As a result of this disagreement, he promised to destroy my property and all my investments in the state”, Mustapha alleged.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Peculiar Allowance     Bello Oyedepo     Issa Oloruntogun     Bello Oyebanji     Ndama Al-hassan     James Kolo     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     NIPOGA     Simeon Ajibola     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Folorunsho Alao     Abdulkadir Orire     Emmanuel Bello     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Idofin     Umar Ayinla Saro     Adijat Adebiyi     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Village Alive Development Association     SAPZ Project     Tafidan Kaiama     Suwa-Arabs     Jimba Babatunde     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Azeez Salawu     Amule Elementary School     Moses Salami     Bashir Adigun     Halimat Yusuf     Jumoke F. Ajao     NULGE     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Abdulfatai Ahmed     Ilorin West     MMWG     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Omar Gambari     Oke-opin     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Mohammed Halidu     Bolakale Kawu Agaka     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Valsolar Consultoria     Fatimat Saliu     Sulyman Buhari     Henry Olaosebikan     Alfa Belgore     Valsolar     Mary Arinde     Bureau Of Lands     Smart School     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Kayode Oyin-Zubair     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Salihu Ajia     Musa Abdullahi     Awoye     Memunat Monsuma     Ajidagba     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Yusuf Amuda Gobir     Ibrahim Oniye     Emir Of Shonga     ASKOMP     Garba Idris Ajia     Segun Adeniyi     Waheed Ibrahim     Muhammadu Buhari     Turaki     Idowu Laro     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Kunbi Titiloye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Yahya Mohammed     Lai Mohammed     Ubandawaki     Musibau Akanji     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Omar Gambari     Kazeem Gbolagade     Ayinke Saka     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Congress For National Consensus     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Kubra Kazum     Olaiya Lawal     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     LEAH Charity Foundation     Maryam Nurudeen     Moses Salami     Taofik Abdulkareem     Tunji Oyawoye     REO CAKES     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Jumoke F. Ajao     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Sulyman Tejidini     Saliu Oluwole     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Michael Nzwekwe     Onilorin     Abubakar Baba     Abatemi-Usman     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Marufat Oladosu     Sunset Workers     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Oko     Yeketi     Mahe Abdulkadir     Kisra     Eleja     Nigerian Army     2023 Elections     Sayomi     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Gamji Members Association     Senate Presidency     Kwara Central     Pakata     Turaki     Elekoyangan     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Mufutau Olatinwo     Biliaminu Aliu     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Jaigbade Alao     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Ayodele Shittu     Boko Haram     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Kale Ayo     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Obayomi Azeez     Lotus Bank     Suleiman Abubakar     Olusola Saraki     Local Government     Quranic Recitation Competition     Alapansapa     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Rachael Obisesan     Ndakene