The Kogi State House of Assembly has stepped up efforts to halt land grabbing and the illegal exploitation of government-owned land across the state.
Chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Hon. Abu Onoruoiza Jibril, disclosed this while speaking with Assembly correspondents shortly after the Kogi State Bureau of Lands defended its 2026 budget proposal in Lokoja.
Jibril lamented that several government-owned lands, both within and outside the state capital, have been encroached upon by private individuals, stressing that such practices will no longer be tolerated from 2026.
The lawmaker, who represents Ajaokuta State Constituency, expressed concern over the level of encroachment on government land around the Mount Patti Tourist Site in Lokoja, describing the situation as disturbing and alarming.
He directed the Director General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands to urgently investigate the encroachment, prevent further invasion, and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
“All government land encroached upon by private individuals must be reclaimed. The era of land grabbing and exploitation is over. Mount Patti is a major tourist site, yet some individuals have encroached on it to erect private buildings. This must stop,” he said.
Jibril added that the Eighth Assembly would not condone actions capable of denting the image of the state, noting reports of individuals selling the same parcel of land to multiple buyers.
“It has come to our notice that some individuals sell one piece of land to more than ten people. This is a criminal offence and must be condemned in its entirety,” he stated.
The first-time legislator also decried the abandonment of lands across the state, warning that such sites were increasingly becoming hideouts for criminals.
“Any land that is not being developed should be revoked. His Excellency, the Chief Servant of Kogi State, is making concerted efforts to nip insecurity in the bud. Abandoned lands and uncompleted buildings have become breeding grounds for criminal activities. This must be stopped,” he emphasised.
Earlier, the Director General of the Bureau, Mr. Kehinde Otaru, while defending the agency’s 2026 budget, raised concerns over the shortage of staff and land under the bureau’s control.
He appealed to the House to urgently address the issue, noting that these have persisted for a long time and continued to hamper the effective functioning of the agency.
