Oyo Demolishes Illegal Properties On Govt Acquired Lands

The Oyo State government has taken action against land grabbers, demolishing properties on government-acquired lands in Podo Area, along Top One Garden, Oluyole Local Government, and Dizengoff, Kolapo Ishola Area, Ibadan.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin Funmilayo, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ibadan: “The lands in question are assets of the Oyo State government, and we will not tolerate any form of encroachment or illegal occupation.”

He emphasised that those currently working on the land are not the real owners or users but “purely land grabbers”.

He added, “By Section 3, Subsection 1 of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2017, any person who engages in land grabbing or related activities shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years.”

The commissioner further explained that the government had sent revocation notices to occupants of the Podo area along Top One Garden, and a newspaper publication was made in the Tribune Newspaper on September 25th, 2012.

According to him, the land was also gazetted the same year, indicating its acquisition for a Neighbourhood market.

He said the occupants took the government to court despite the state government’s efforts, but judgement was delivered in favour of the state government.

The commissioner, however, noted that the government was ready to settle with land owners who had genuine Certificates of Occupancy (CofO).