(PHOTOS) LAGOS GOVT MOVES TO TACKLE LAND GRABBING, PROHIBITS FORCEFUL ENTRY, ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF LANDED PROPERTIES
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On Tuesday, the Lagos State Government In a bid to curb and tackle the unscrupulous activities of land grabbers in the state, the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers under the State Ministry of Justice organized a stakeholders meeting with the theme “Safeguarding Possessory Rights in Lands: The Role of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers” at the Leawood Hotel, Sangotedo, Eti-Osa.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, noted in his address at the event that the rise in cases of land grabbing is an issue of great concern to the state government.
According to the Attorney General, the purpose of organizing the Stakeholders’ Meeting is to foster open dialogue, share information and experiences, and collectively identify solutions to the problems inherent in the activities of land grabbers.
“As part of the effort to address the issue of land grabbing in the state, the Lagos State Government enacted a law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, as well as violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to landed properties in the state,” Pedro stated.
Pointing out that resolving land-grabbing issues is of great importance to the Sanwo-Olu Administration, Pedro stated that the menace of land grabbers has led to conflicts on lands in the state, which have resulted in the destruction of properties and even the loss of lives.
“It is a fact that property transactions in Lagos State have been greatly hindered by the activities of the Omo-Onile and Ajagungbales,” he said.
Furthermore, the Attorney-General emphasised that the law on land grabbing that was enacted in 2016 still stands regardless of one’s status in society.
He explained some of the provisions of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016 and, in particular, Section 2(1) of the Law, which prohibits the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engage in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos.
Speaking earlier, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-bey Jeje, expressed delight towards the participants and key stakeholders present for honoring the invitations provided for the event.
She noted that the gathering is of utmost importance, which is to explore the role of the taskforce in safeguarding possession rights to land within the state, saying, “The issue of land grabbing has been a persistent challenge in various parts of our state, causing unrest, stifling commercial activities, and disrupting the lives of Lagos residents.”
Shitta-bey-Jeje stated that all hands must be on deck in shaping the policies and strategies that will curb land-grabbing activities in the state.
However, while urging participants and key stakeholders to work together to ensure the safety of landed properties in the state, she wished everyone to present a fruitful and engaging discussion towards eradicating illegal acts of land grabbing in the state.
Also speaking, Director of Public Prosecutions and Guest Speaker of the occasion, Dr. Babajide Martins, stated that since its inception, the Task Force has been actively engaged in addressing this menace, receiving and resolving numerous petitions.
“The Taskforce has received 7500 petitions, out of which 1251 are frivolous, 4283 disputes have been resolved, 205 land grabbers have been arrested, 60 cases are being prosecuted in various courts, while 1566 petitions are currently pending before the Task Force. However, our work is far from over. Challenges persist, and we must come together as a community to find sustainable solutions,” he said.
The Elejigbo of Langbasa, HRM Oba Hafeez Olakunle Badiru, said that land grabbers for decades have constituted a threat to property acquisition in Lagos, noting that there have been alarming reports of land grabbing across the state.
While acknowledging the state government’s efforts in curbing land grabbing in Lagos, Oba Hafeez Badiru, implored the state government and the police to ensure immediate prosecution of identified land grabbers and their sponsors to serve as a deterrent to other individuals in the state.
Meanwhile, while delivering the vote of thanks, the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Ms. Rukayat Shomade, expressed gratitude to the State Government and the Ministry of Justice for their immense support towards the agency and looked forward to future collaborations.
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