Oyo State Assembly Holds Public Hearing On Real Properties Protection Bill

The Oyo State House of Assembly has held a public hearing on the Real Properties Protection Bill, 2023, in an effort to bring an end to land grabbing issues.

The public hearing, held on Wednesday, at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Parliament building, had many people from all walks of life in attendance to submit their inputs and amendment to the bill.

The Chairman, House Committee on Lands and Housing, Hon. Dele Adeola, disclosed that there was the existence of the Real Properties Protection Law, 2016 passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly in 2016, to curb the incident of land grabbing in the state.

“With the implementation of the Law under reference by the Governor Makinde-led administration, it was discovered that the Law was defective and could not achieve the purpose of curbing land grabbing activities in the state. Hence, the government decided to bring and initiate a new bill tagged: Oyo State Real Properties Protection Bill, 2023. 

“The new bill is all encompassing and really addressing all grey areas that needed to be addressed. It seeks to do, among other things; repealing the existing Law and creating a functioning agency under the Governor’s Office for proper monitoring and financing to get an appreciable result,” he explained.

Adeola observed that a sanitised environment, where there would not be issue of land grabbing and where there would be more investors to develop the economy of the state, would be expected after the bill scales through the third reading at the floor of the House.

He noted that all the observations raised by the stakeholders, would be critically look into and those relevant and important to the bill would be considered.

In her words, Rtd. Hon. Justice Aiki, while submitting her amendment proposal, commended the Oyo State House of Assembly and the Executive Governor of Oyo State for deeming it fit to nip the activities of land grabbers in the bud through the instrumentality of law which has culminated into the drafting of the bill.

The representatives of the Commissioner of Police and the Director General, Operation Burst, also submitted their inputs in which they both recommended that there should be synergy between the statutory law enforcement agencies and the taskforce in the discharge of duties, while the power to detain a suspect should exclusively be reserved for the national law enforcement agencies.

In his words, the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Sefiu Oyebola, said he would recommend that the bill should be amended to ensure that there are checks and balances so as to prevent unnecessary abuse of power by the law enforcement agencies, suggesting that there should be autonomy for the agency in order to aid the smooth running of its establishment.

Stakeholders present at the event include, traditional rulers, government officials, security agencies, draftsmen and artisans, among others.

Confidence Okwuchi