“… as it inspects the facility, calls for calm among protesting citizens, says justice must be done …”
Nasarawa State House of Assembly 9 Man Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate the alleged sales of Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Victoria Island, Lagos and other States, has arrived Lagos State on a facts finding mission.
The team led by its Chairman, Hon. Larry Ven Bawa on arrival in Lagos moved straight to the building located at plot 1234 Bishop Oluwole, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
The committee inspected the entire structure of two blocks of two story building with many rooms, a boys quarters, cafeteria, sweeming pool and other facilities.
The team also met with some citizens of the State residence in Lagos under their union, Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos chapter where they had a comprehensive interaction.
The committee Chairman Hon Larry Ven Bawa informed them that as a concern leaders from the State they are mandated by the leadership of the State Assembly as their representatives, who have passion and concern for their wellbeing to visit Lagos as a follow up to the recent protest over alleged sales of the building by the past administration of Governor Umar Tanko Almakura.
” We are here as directed by Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi the Speaker, this was based on our resolutions during the House proceedings to investigate alleged sales of state government properties in Lagos and other states by the then Administration of Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
“To find out the real cause of the protest by our citizens in Lagos , see the building, know your conditions and situations, especially those arrested as well as investigate actually if the building was sold, who buy it, where is the transaction process and where is the money, was it deposited to the government coffer or not,” he said.
The committee chairman advised them to stop protest henceforth as the State Assembly will thoroughly investigate the matter as well as all other government properties in other States.
Ven Bawa noted that Nasarawa State like every other States need to have liaison office in Lagos.
He emphasized that the protest has dent on the image of the State before the outside world hence the reason to calm them down just as he tasked them to remain good ambassadors of the State.
Contributing, the Majority Leader of the House Hon. Muhammed Adamu Omadefu cleared the air that the 5th Assembly has passed a resolution granting the request of the then Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for the sales of the property having been informed that the building was a shadow of itself decaying and wasting as no one is occupying it but unfortunately it was now discovered that some citizens of the State are staying there.
He emphasized that since then the House did not get any feed back on whether it was sold or not and what was the process, not to talk of weather the money was channeled to Government coffers and besides there was know budget provision for it.
The President of Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos chapter Alh Musa Ikushigya appreciated the visit by the lawmakers, saying that it has given them hope and relief.
He revealed that last Monday policemen in three trucks came and told them that they have order from the above to come and evacuate all those residing in the building.
The President told the committee that they officers said they are illegal occupants in the building and that the new owner of the structure want to use it.
He added that they are not aware of the buyer, no quit notice was given to them to evacuate the structure.
He said that the building has been the headquarters of Nasarawa people in Lagos where they hold their quarterly meetings.
Speaking in an interview, some of the occupants, Ismaila Ogah from Doma LG and Sunday Alizi from Nassarawa Eggon LG appealed to the State Government to carryout renovation of the building and provide them with security.