Onyebuchi Ezigbo
26 May 2008
Abuja — The Federal Government has given breakdown in communication and lack of proper procedure as reasons for its conflict with the Lagos State government over the building of a brand new city on the atlantic.
Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Chuka Odom, who said this in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, said issues that led to the disagreement are more of procedures and observation of due process, rather than clash of interests.
The disagreement came to the open when Ministry officials objected to an invitation from Lagos State, to the launch of the Eko Atlantic City project early this year.
"It is more of the Federal Government's responsibility to Nigerians to ensure that laws are obeyed, extant regulations relating to execution of such projects, such as its effects on the environment, the safety of the people and effective control of hazardous substances and ancillary effects such a project could have if not properly planned and executed, would be minimised and the Federal Government takes this responsibility very serious," Odom said.
The project is part of the new effort by Lagos State, to beautify the country's commercial nerve centre and provide adequate accommodation for its residents.
Odom said though Lagos State government got a provisional approval from former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the project, "however, the former President clearly stated that the
approval is subject to protection of the interest of the Federal Government."
He said the Ministry considers the matter as a misunderstanding rather than any form of dispute. "I want to believe quite frankly, that it may have been as a result of some kind of communication break down or lapses, which the meeting we had with President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has addressed. And that is that we should express this concern in writing to Lagos State and then have their feedback.
"I believe the President does not consider this matter as dispute, but as issues that we can actually dialogue with Lagos State government and find amicable solution," he said.
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