The Managing Director and Founder of Lekki Farms, Mrs. Oladunni Otitoju, has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to intervene in the illegal sealing of Lekki Farms. The action was allegedly orchestrated by the Lagos State Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and a senior advocate.
In a letter dated June 19, 2024, addressed to Speaker Obasa and the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Olotu Emmanuel, Mrs. Otitoju detailed the events leading to the farm's closure. She recounted that on May 28, Lekki Farms was sealed despite compliance with all regulatory requirements and submission of necessary documentation to the Ministry.
Mrs. Otitoju explained that upon inquiring about the reasons for the sealing, she was asked to provide various documents, including a license to operate an abattoir and an environmental audit report. Despite fulfilling these requests, the Ministry has not lifted the seal, resulting in significant losses for the farm, including the death of livestock, spoilage of frozen products, loss of customer goodwill, and earnings.
Her petition highlighted that despite presenting all required documents, they have not been informed of any wrongdoing that warranted such severe punishment. Mrs. Otitoju emphasized that Lekki Farms has always complied with regulations, paid taxes, and contributed positively to the community, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.
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"We pay our taxes to the government and have positively impacted the people around us. During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, we were consistent in sharing bags of dry beans and gari to our neighbours – the mechanics, bus drivers, and the Gedegede villagers, just as we gave our support to LASG to give cow meat to Motherless Babies’ Homes in Lekki / Ajah axis," she stated.
She also noted that Lekki Farms has held the land since 2001 without any harassment or adverse claims, and has adhered to the terms and conditions of the allocation and development permit.
Mrs. Otitoju's petition concluded with a plea for Speaker Obasa to intervene and compel the Ministry of Environment to halt all forms of intimidation and threats of eviction pending a thorough investigation into the claims of ownership, which are currently being adjudicated in the Lagos State High Court.
The farm is located within a section of the Road/Canal Setback on the Maroko-Epe Expressway, Lekki Scheme 1.
