The Senior Pastor of Omega Power Ministry, Chibuzor Chinyere, has expressed disappointment over the demolition of a section of the church’s property along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
The demolition, carried out on Wednesday, was reportedly for developmental purposes. However, the action displaced pupils of the church’s free school, who were seen outside the demolished premises, some being comforted by their teachers.
Reacting to the incident, Pastor Chinyere took to his Facebook page to condemn the demolition, highlighting the impact on the beneficiaries of the free school.
He wrote, “Happening Now. Lagos State Government demolishing OPM free schools in Lagos State. A free school for orphans and children of widows. Let the tears of the orphans and widows begin to speak.”
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Pastor Chinyere criticized the compensation offered by the government, stating that it did not match the value of the demolished property.
“The demolished parts of the church are worth about N900 million, but what the government is offering is just N120 million. Development is good, but pay adequate compensation. This is pure wickedness,” he said.
The pastor also denied appointing anyone to negotiate with LAMATA on behalf of the church. “Only our lawyer, Roselyn Tokunbo, or myself has the authority to negotiate,” he clarified.
The church’s counsel, Francis Ogbonnaya, supported Pastor Chinyere’s claims, alleging that the individual negotiating with LAMATA had no connection to the church.
“The person negotiating with LAMATA does not represent the church. I don’t even know how she got involved. She has no authority to transact on behalf of the church,” Ogbonnaya stated.
Responding to the church’s allegations, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, Kola Ojelabi, defended the demolition, emphasizing its necessity for the development of the corridor.
“The land belongs to the government, and since the government has revoked the land, we are paying for the value of the building on it. The amount we offered, N123 million, reflects the depreciated value of the property,” Ojelabi explained.
He added that LAMATA had not faced similar disputes in other transport projects, expressing confidence in the fairness of the compensation.
