From Taiye Joseph,
Over 5,000 residents from Ilorin are calling for urgent government intervention following allegations of land grabbing, property demolition, and forced acquisition by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The affected individuals, displaced from their homes, are appealing to President Bola Tinubu for action.
Pastor Tope Ajetumobi, a spokesperson for the victims, addressed journalists in Ilorin, urging President Tinubu to step in and resolve the situation.
The residents are also demanding N160,750,000 (one hundred and sixty million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira), in compensation from Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of NNPCL.
The controversy dates back to 2018 when the Nigerian Army Engineers, allegedly demolished 976 structures to clear land for NNPCL. This action reportedly left 5,000 people homeless without compensation. The affected area spans 11.83 kilometers from Oke Oyi, Tanke Pipeline Road, to Baba-Ode Oshin in Ilorin, and includes residential and commercial buildings, religious institutions, schools, and other facilities.
Efforts to secure compensation have been thwarted, according to Ajetumobi, who criticized Mele Kyari for allegedly ignoring previous attempts to address the issue.
The House Public Petitions Committee had passed a resolution in 2019 for NNPCL to assess and compensate for the damages, but the company has reportedly not acted on it.
The victims cite the Oil Pipeline Act of 2004 and the Nigeria Urban and Regional Planning Act of 1992 as the basis for their claims, highlighting losses in land value, property, businesses, and health impacts.
As the displaced individuals continue to endure hardship, they await a resolution to their compensation claims.
