Lagos — Representatives of the communities whose land have been earmarked for construction of Lagos state owned International Airport proposed to be sited between Epe and Ibeju-Lekki local government areas of the state have called on the state government to first embark on payment of compensation for their land before any work could start on the project.

Some of the leaders of the 65 communities that will be scrap for the proposed airport have kicked against the idea of starting the project before coampensation could be made.

They argued that the idea of compensation later will not be accepted as they noted that such was the idea the state government used during the immediate past administration where they alleged the state succeeded in grabbing large expanse of their lands for what they described as 'scrupulous developmental purpose' without paying necessary compensation.

Mr. Adetoun Yusuf, one of the community leaders admitted that the state have had a stakeholder's meeting with leaders of the communities involved and promised to pay compensation, he however argued that what the affected communities could rely on is action and not 'empty promise.'

Another concerned community leader in the area, Mrs. Adaralegbe Mujidat whose community falls within Ibeju-Lekki local government area argued that she suspected the promise made by the government noting that the council area is a People's Democratic Party's (PDP) dominated area where the ruling Action Congress (AC) government had succeeded in grabbing large part of their land, an act that she said created enemity between people of the area and the party.

However, an official of the Lands Bureau informed DailyTrust that the state government has expressed its preparedness to pay compensation for the affected people who will be displaced from their ancestral villages.

It was gathered at the government, through Lands Bureau had reassured the affected communities of government's intention to adequately compensate those that would be affected.