Oyo State declares Zero tolerance on activities of Land Grabbers

The Oyo State Government has declared zero tolerance to the activities of land grabbers or any act of forceful entry, illegal occupation, as well as fraudulent conduct on real property in the state.

The State acting Governor, Bayo Lawal, made the declaration while inaugurating a Special Task Force Unit of the Real Property Protection Law, 2016, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, the state capital.

At the ceremony, the acting Governor explained that “the activities of the grabbers encroaching on land space in the state had become worrisome and the state government would no longer condone their disturbance of public peace, hence the need for setting up the Task Force to tackle the menace frontally.”

Lawal said that the Real Properties Protection Law, 2016 had not taken effect because the Task Force Unit, which is the operational unit of the Law, had not been in existence.

He said that the operational unit and powerhouse of the Law was being inaugurated to demonstrate the political will of Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.

Lawal stated; “Inaugurating this Task Force Unit further underscores the recognition of this administration, that its primary business is economic growth and maintenance of law and order, in consonance with its four cardinal objectives.

“Land grabbing will no longer be tolerated in Oyo State and under the Law. Land grabbers can now be jailed for up to 15 years while those who aid and abet them will not go scot-free.”

The acting Governor further explained that several public and private stakeholders in land management and security service were taken into consideration in setting up the Task Force.

The Task Force would be headed by a retired Judge of the Oyo State High Court, His Lordship, Justice Olajumoke Aiki.

Lawal revealed that “the 17-member Task Force Unit is made up of members of both the public and private bar of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), officials of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), security operatives, as well as the Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (IESV).”

On behalf of the Task Force, the Chairman of the team, Justice Olajumoke Aiki (Rtd), assured the state government that the Task Force would discharge its duties in line to protect the rights of property owners and prohibit forceful entry or takeover of property in the state.

Aiki stated; “My humble self and the members of the Task Force Unit hereby pledge our utmost best in the discharge of our duties in the takeoff and moving forward of the Task Force Unit in the realisation of its objectives of protecting the rights of property owners and prohibiting forceful entry, illegal occupation, violent and fraudulent conduct, about real property in Oyo State and for purposes connected therewith in the service of the good people of Oyo State.”

She called for the support of the government and people of the state as the feat could not be achieved without them.

Mercy Chukwudibere