Constant invasions of Ikeja Saddle Club threaten wildlife, environmental health — President

In recent years, Ikeja Saddle Club has endured repeated invasions, endangering wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability. Club president Bukola Badejo-Okunsanya discusses these challenges and the looming threat of wildlife extinction in this interview with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI

In the past few years, Ikeja Saddle Club has faced recurrent invasions and plundering. Could you shed light on the factors responsible for these incursions?

 What caused this issue is the dispute over the ownership of the land. As it stands, we have a Certificate of Occupancy issued to us by the Lagos State Government. That is the document on which we rely. However, the invaders, who came to take possession of the land, relied on a court judgment granting them possession. Now, I don’t want to comment too much on all the legal issues because we’re still in court, and I’m not allowed to say too much about this. However, I think I can safely say that there’s a significant dispute over the ownership of the land, dating back to the survey used to demarcate the land and the legal status of the survey. I believe that’s where the main issue lies, and it’s not just about the ownership of the land.

What assets has the club lost in recent years amidst the constant invasions?

We have been losing revenue. We haven’t been able to sustain the revenue at the same level as before because people can’t visit the premises and use the facilities. Consequently, we are losing membership systematically. That’s one issue. Additionally, don’t forget that the club is also an employer of labour. We had to lay off staff members because they could not perform their duties adequately anymore.

The club’s equipment and properties have been severely damaged, not to mention the environmental impact. We’ve had trees cut down, endangering wildlife. Before the consistent invasions began, we had various animals such as antelopes and turtles, but they have been systematically eliminated.

The Saddle Club isn’t just about social activities; it’s also about promoting a better ecosystem and a healthy environment. We do not support the transformation of every green area into a commercial entity. Some of us maintain these green spaces to promote better living. However, this objective has faced numerous challenges due to the continuous invasions.

In a recent statement, you were quoted as saying that the club was invaded by vandals. Could you elaborate on the items vandalised during this latest incident?

In the most recent invasion, all the stables were damaged, and completely broken down. We’ve had to relocate all our livestock, and arrangements have been made to remove the club’s valuable properties due to the roof being removed. It has been very unpleasant.

How do you feel about this situation?

Personally, one would feel terrible. Any right-thinking person would be very unhappy about the situation we find ourselves in. The club has been in existence for many years and has helped promote the industry even beyond the country’s borders. We have people from embassies coming to visit, and the environment serves as a tourist attraction centre. When such a place is constantly vandalised, we would all agree there is a problem. You only know the beauty of such an environment if you have visited it, where you see adults and children mingling together, promoting equestrian activities, a green environment, and enjoying the ambiance of the premises.

Beyond the loss of property, what implications will these damages have on the Lagos State wildlife ecosystem, and the environment?

The first thing we should realise is that Lagos State is also striving to promote the development of sustainable ecosystems. Now, the potential loss of our properties means there’s going to be a conversion, and we must also consider the demography of the area. Is it capable of accommodating the proposed development that will take place? If we lose this place, property developers will come and strip it into pieces, leading to the loss of the ecosystem that one is about to build or the ones that have been built over the years. When such development occurs, and about 30 to 40 people use the environment every day, with thousands navigating the terrain daily, problems will arise. Is the infrastructure created to accommodate such a capacity of people? I don’t think so.

I’m very certain that Lagos State would address this before it becomes a problem because such developments also attract negative influences that will put pressure on the system itself. We must focus on sustaining rather than damaging and stripping it for economic gains. We have to look beyond the economic gain of this situation. Everything can’t just be about money, and it’s not the way to build an environment, as far as we’re concerned. Surely, it will take us as long as we have been here to redevelop such an environment in Lagos. Therefore, this is regression on a very large scale.

What about the role of the club in wildlife conservation?

At the club, we had all sorts of wildlife: antelopes, turtles, and rabbits, and they were allowed to roam freely. What about the plants and trees that we had planted over the years? Some of them have even grown to maturity now. They were all suddenly cut down, and the wildlife was eliminated. You can’t see one antelope there now; everything has been damaged.

Addressing the loss of animals and the inability to plant new trees due to the intermittent invasions, what implications does this have for the area, and is there concern about the future of a greener Lagos?

In situations like this, as I mentioned earlier, the matter is still in court. It’s hard for us to determine what will happen tomorrow, but one thing is obvious: if we were to lose that property, Lagos State would be the greatest loser. This loss would extend to the natural surroundings, the Certificate of Occupancy held by others, employment opportunities, additional pressures that would arise, and how the international community perceives our role in promoting environmental issues.

How important is it to continue protecting green areas and wildlife?

As I mentioned earlier, the promotion of the ecosystem through wildlife conservation and the maintenance of our green areas are very important and shouldn’t be treated lightly. The world is clamouring for action on climate change, and we need to address this situation promptly.

So, if this area is taken over, as I mentioned, it will mean losing a piece of our contribution to the sustenance, promotion, and development of wildlife conservation and a greener Lagos.

If you look around, there are very few places in Lagos State that have such areas. Let me take you back quickly. About thirty or forty years ago, most of the areas that Lagos State was developing at that time always had green spaces and playgrounds. The idea was to promote an environment where people could enjoy recreation. Over the years, these places have been strategically destroyed due to housing estates. This is likely the objective of those opposing us on this club issue. It’s probably for commercial purposes only and cannot be for the development of the ecosystem or the preservation of the existing ecosystem.

As a prominent tourist destination, does Lagos face the risk of potentially losing one of its key attraction spots in the state?

Without a doubt. Let me share an interesting observation with you. The location of the club itself, you would agree with me, is a bit far from what you would term as today’s central business district. So, if you have people coming from Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, as well as from all over the country, to come and enjoy the amenities around the club, that should tell you how significant the centre is. Let me ask you again, how many such places do you have in Lagos? How many? Nobody wants to travel to Badagry to enjoy such amenities. Now, nobody wants to go to Epe, nobody wants to go to Ikorodu to visit these facilities. So, there’s a serious need for Lagos State to step up and see how they can assist us in addressing this situation. You have to learn to appreciate nature itself to understand the importance of the Ikeja Saddle Club.

Has the club developed a sustainability plan to ensure the continued maintenance of the green areas it has managed since 1975?

Oh yes, definitely! Don’t forget that in an environment such as that, you’ll lose plants and trees, and you’ll need to replant. There was even a plan, we wanted to put a small fish pond there, not for commercial purposes, but for wildlife to sustain themselves. You know, we have grand plans for the redevelopment of the place, and if we were to show you the plan, you’d be quite amazed.

We have received inputs from international organisations on how we can put the place together, creating a world-class facility where world-class activities can also take place.

What about the role of the club in the host community?

At this stage, I must commend the host community. They’ve been quite understanding of the situation and have supported us. The situation affecting us is not only impacting the club but the entire area. I’m not at liberty to start mentioning names. There are commercial establishments in the same place, so why is the focus solely on the Ikeja Saddle Club? Those who don’t have an idea of what we do may say it’s just another parcel of land. Of course, it’s not a bare parcel of land; it’s a developed property for the purpose that it’s been used, to promote a better ecosystem, preserve wildlife, and serve as a tourist attraction centre here in Lagos.

There’s a field where activities are held, there are green areas where people go to have picnics with their families —it’s a lot.

In light of past President Wole Osinupeni’s interview, where he mentioned the intervention of the Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, to prevent the property’s demolition, is there a withdrawal of support from the Lagos State government towards the club?

Well, I don’t believe so. However, I think they need to pull up their socks and step up to face the situation we’re currently dealing with because we can’t afford to lose this land to these invaders. Lagos State issues a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), so as far as I’m concerned, we have a title. If someone is contesting the document issued by Lagos State, then Lagos State should come out and assert its authority. If they allow such challenges to go unchecked, what does it imply for everyone holding a C of O in Lagos State? It means anyone can simply wake up and claim your property. That is the implication of what we’re discussing. Forget about all that I’ve spoken about; what about the legal implications? People who have used their documents to raise funds — where does that leave them? These are significant businesses contributing to our economy.

Let’s not forget that the international community is closely observing what is happening and they’re deeply concerned about the situation and how it reflects on Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

Furthermore, the state has been vocal about climate change and the need for sustainability. Yet, here we have an environment like this, and on the other hand, we’re allowing such facilities to be destroyed. It doesn’t bode well at all. We’re appealing to the Lagos State government to assist us in resolving this matter. It’s urgent because we could lose the case if they do not intervene.