The Lagos State Government says it has begun payment of compensations to the 16 traditional land owning families for the land it acquired for agricultural activities in Igbodu Area of Epe, Lagos.

The state Commissioner of Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, made this known at the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries at the ministry’s Cooperative College Hall, Oko-Oba, Agege in Lagos, on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had acquired about 500 hectares of lands in 1985 to revatalise food production in Molajoye, Aleke and Igbodu areas of Epe.

Ms Olusanya said the state government had paid about N40 million so far as compensations to the 16 families, whose lands were acquired for the state’s agricultural activities.

She said the criteria for the compensation was based on the size of lands owned by each affected family, adding that there was a certain amount paid for each hectares of land.

“The programme is part of our strategies along with the five points agenda that was launched recently toward acquiring land for agricultural estate development to the areas.

“Negotiation with the families is not about the monetary aspect alone, because what we are doing by acquiring the land for agricultural purposes is one of the ways of bringing jobs to that area.

“It is also part of our strategies along with the five points agenda that was launched recently toward acquiring land for agricultural estate development to the areas.

“We will bring private investors to the place and obviously whatever businesses that will be set up in that location will require labour.