House of Reps Urges FG to Stop Military’s Communal Land Acquisitions

The House of Representatives, has urged the Federal Government to stop military personnel from converting acquired communal lands for their personal use.

This followed the adoption of a motion moved by  Hon. Afe Olowookere  from Ondo state during Wednesday plenary.

Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Olowookere, revealed that in the 1970s, the then Federal Military Government acquired large expanses of land in some States Capitals, for purposes of establishing military barracks.

He further lamented that since the acquisition, more than eighty percent of the lands are yet to be utilized.

Hon. Olowookere however alledged that some of the lands were now been lease and sold for private use by some military personnels.

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Hon. Afe Olowookere, 

Ondo State.

Supporting the motion,  Honorable Yakubu Barde ( Kaduna state) urged the military to return some of the lands not in use to give room for the host communities to utilize them for Agricultural purposes.

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Hon Yakubu Barde, 

Kaduna State.

In further contributions to the motion, while some senators argued that the motion contravanes the resolution passed by the House earlier calling on the Federal Government to provide more accommodation from military personnels in the barrack other Lawmakers appealed to members to support the motion to give room for proper investigation into the allegation.

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Hon. Orker Jev.

Chairman rules and business.

Hon. Kingsley Chinda 

Rivers state.

The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara further in his ruling mandated the Committees on Defence and Housing to ensure adequate implementation.