The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the “Oyo State Land Control and Administration Bill, 2023”.
The bill sets standards for land agents and persons in real estate business, and prescribes procedures to acquire and use land in the state.
The passage of the bill into law followed a presentation by the Chairman, House Committee on Lands and Survey, Dele Adeola, at Thursday’s plenary.
By this, property agents who are not professionally certified but involve in land transaction above 50 hectares within urban areas, 100 hectares within rural areas and estate development with more than 50 housing units, are now liable to a fine of N500,000 or a year imprisonment.
A N1million fine or two years imprisonment, or both, awaits anyone involved in real estate business without registration.
Also aimed at knowing the intention behind acquisition of large expanse of land, the bill stipulates that any land for farming purpose above 100 hectares within urban areas shall be subjected to the approval of the State Land Administration Committee, SLAC, chaired by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
The SLAC is also to approve of the use of land for commercial and industrial purposes to the size of not more than 50 hectares within an urban area.
The bill sets up a Local Land Administration Committee, LLAC to approve the use of land above 250 hectares for farming purpose within rural areas and for the purpose of commercial and industrial use to the size of 100 hectares also within rural areas.
Furthermore, the use of land for residential purposes, which includes housing scheme and estate development, with more than 50 housing units, shall be subjected to the approval of SLAC or LLAC.
Another stipulation of the bill is that any agency, corporate organisation or company or individual carrying on Real Estate business in the state is mandated to register with the Ministry of Lands and the Oyo State Housing Corporation.
Certified professionals in land administration who involve in Land transaction without due process are liable to be suspended from practice or pay a fine of 500,000 or a year imprisonment.
The bill also states setbacks to circular roads in the State as 150m to the right side and 150m to the left, while setback to rail lines is put at 200m to the right side and 200m to the left side, and setback to rivers is not less than 30m.
Elucidating after plenary, Honourable Dele Adeola reiterated that the intent of the bill is to know the intention behind people acquiring many hectares of land thereby curtailing possible security threat.
He disclosed that the bill would also regulate activities of land agents and estate developers and prevent a situation where all lands meant for industrial purposes are turned into residential areas.
Adeola noted that the SLAC and LLAC would help ascertain the intention behind acquisition of many hectares of land, as well as help in resolution of land related disputes.
Confidence Okwuchi
