The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a socio-cultural organization based in Lagos State, has written to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, seeking clarity on recent revelations made by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, regarding the land used to build Africa’s largest refinery in the state.
The group’s leaders are demanding an explanation from the governor about who received the payment, through which account, and how the funds were utilized.
According to the Foundation, over 7,000 acres of land were taken from Lagos natives in the Ibeju-Lekki areas without compensation. They noted that prior to Dangote’s recent disclosure, the public narrative was that the land was provided to the industrialist by a previous administration at no cost to attract the refinery project to the state.
Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Set To Address Nigerians Amid Protests In Few Hours
In a letter dated July 29 and jointly signed by the group’s President, Prince Adelani Adeniji-Adele (who passed away on August 2), and Secretary General, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, the Foundation called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to clarify the alleged $100 million transaction involving the purchase of the 7,000 acres of land by the Dangote Refinery.
The group expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and benefits from the alleged $100 million transaction, particularly for the host communities in Ibeju-Lekki, which reportedly have not received compensation or basic amenities. Citing the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, the Foundation requested detailed information on the transaction, including the account used to receive the payment and how the funds were spent.
It wrote: “Alhaji Aliko Dangote on the 21st day of July, 2024 claimed in one of his broadcasts that he purchased the approximately 7,000 acres of land he used for his refinery from the Lagos State Government and that he purchased the land for $100,000,000:00 (One Hundred Million USD).
“De RENNAISANCE PATRIOTS FOUNDATION is bewildered as to why notice of the purchase was not brought to the attention of the government, and how the money was expended without the public being informed or benefiting from it, particularly the host communities in Ibeju-Lekki.
“As of press time, communities in Ibeju-Lekki were not known to have been paid compensation or provided with basic social amenities from the alleged $100,000,000:00 USD (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) as claimed by Dangote.
“On the basis of the foregoing, we hereby demand information on the allegation and detailed information on how the money was expended and the account that was used to receive the money.
“Sir, Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 provides that; where information is applied for under this Act, the public institution to which the application is made shall, subject to sections 6, 7, and 8 of this Act, within seven (7) days after the application is received, make the information available to the applicant.
“Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 provides as follows; (1) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to a record or information applied for under this Act, or a part thereof, the institution shall state in the notice given to the applicant the grounds for the refusal, the specific provision of this Act that it relates to, and that the applicant has a right to challenge the decision refusing access and have it reviewed by a court.
“(4) Where the government or public institution fails to give access to information or record applied for under this Act, or part thereof, within the time set out in this Act, the institution shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to have refused to give access.”
They called for a response within seven days and warned that failure to comply would result in approaching the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or seeking an Order of Mandamus in court against the state government.
