Christian Community Appeals to Lagos Government Over LSDPC Estate Land Dispute
A Christian community in the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) estate at Isheri North has appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene in a land dispute involving a plot reportedly allocated for a proposed interdenominational library and learning centre.
In an opinion article published by Punch, Bankole Falade called on the Lagos State Governor to address concerns over the alleged reallocation of the land originally designated for the Christian community.
According to Falade, the dispute dates back several years, when LSDPC allocated land for a mosque within the estate. Some residents opposed the decision, arguing that the estate was intended primarily for residential purposes and should not accommodate additional public facilities.
The disagreement reportedly escalated into a religious dispute and legal proceedings. Falade said the matter was eventually addressed through an arrangement to allocate land outside the estate wall, near the main entrance, for a police post, a mosque, a church and a shopping complex.
He noted that the mosque and police post were subsequently constructed and now serve residents of the wider Isheri North community.
However, the Christian community was later informed that the plot allocated to it had allegedly been reassigned to another person, according to the article.
Falade said the community had planned to develop an interdenominational library and learning centre on the land. The proposed facility was intended to serve Christians within the estate and beyond, providing a space for learning and other community activities.
He added that members of the community had begun consultations on raising funds for the project before learning about the reported reallocation.
The writer said the community had previously sent a letter to the governor through his Chief of Staff but had yet to receive a response at the time of writing.
Falade urged the state government to investigate the matter and ensure that the relevant parties were treated fairly. He argued that government agencies should apply the same standards when dealing with religious communities of different faiths.
He also warned that the unresolved dispute could create further tension between Christians and Muslims in the estate, appealing for government intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.
The matter raises questions about land allocation, estate planning and the responsibilities of public property agencies in managing disputes involving residential communities and religious facilities.
The allegations concerning the land’s reallocation and the handling of the dispute reflect the writer’s account. The article did not include a response from LSDPC or the party reportedly allocated the land.
