The Senior Pastor of Omega Power Ministry (OPM), Chibuzor Chinyere, has voiced his strong objections to the demolition of a section of the church’s property located along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.
The demolition, carried out on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), was reportedly aimed at development purposes.
In a video obtained by our source, displaced pupils from the church’s free school were seen gathered outside the demolished building, with some being consoled by their teachers. Tensions rose when church members clashed with LAMATA officials, who continued with the demolition despite the resistance.
Pastor Chinyere raised the alarm on the situation, emphasizing the plight of the school’s beneficiaries. Through a Facebook post, he expressed his dismay, stating, “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.”
At the demolition site, the pastor criticized the compensation being offered by the government, claiming that it fell far short of the value of the building. He insisted that the demolished parts of the church were worth approximately N900m, while the government’s offer was a mere N120m.
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“Development is good, but pay adequate compensation and not give a peanut of N120m and you want to hijack a property of N900m. It is pure wickedness,” Chinyere remarked.
The church’s legal representative, Francis Ogbonnaya, further clarified that the individual negotiating with LAMATA on behalf of the church was unknown to them, asserting that the church had not authorized anyone to engage in such discussions.
LAMATA, however, defended its actions. Kola Ojelabi, Head of Corporate Communication for the authority, explained that the demolition was essential for the development of the transport corridor. He argued that the compensation being offered reflected the depreciated value of the land, which was now government property. “We have not had any issue like this since we started all our transport projects. The amount that we offered, N123m, is just enough for the property we are acquiring for our project,” Ojelabi stated.
The conflict between the church and LAMATA highlights the ongoing tension between development initiatives and the concerns of landowners and institutions affected by such projects.