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FRAUDULENT SALES OF GOVERNMENT LAND MUST STOP ―BODE AGORO

The Lagos State Lands Bureau has stepped up efforts to address incidences of sales of Government’s land to unsuspecting members of the public by Land Grabbers, otherwise known as Omonile.

As part of the multifaceted approaches to sensitize members of the public on the increasing rate of such fraudulent transactions  across the state, the Bureau on Tuesday organized a stakeholders’ forum with members of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN),Community Leaders, Land Surveyors and other key
players in the real estate sector in attendance.

Speaking at the forum, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr. Bode Agoro urged participants to see the Land Grabbers menace as a common enemy to the growth of Real Estate sector and efficient Land Resources management in Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary stated that “these Land Grabbers/Omonile have now taken their game to a new level as they have the audacity to erect sign post bearing Lagos  State Government logo and excision application file numbers in their desperate attempt to deceive prospective buyers into believing that sales of such lands are genuine
transactions and have government backing,” adding that “this engagement is therefore crucial at this material time as we cannot afford to fold our arms while some persons continue to take advantage of hardworking and responsible Lagosians by selling illegal lands to them.”

He said further that“ without addressing the omonile syndrome, we would have left a big monster, plaguing investment in real estate development in Lagos State to continue festering as there are many well meaning corporate organ by Land Grabbers ’activities.”

In his comments, the chairman of the Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria (Lagos State Chapter) Mr. Bamidele Onalaja said members of the Association are fully committed to working with the Lagos State Government in the bid to confront the challenge posed by Land Grabbers activities in the state.

Also speaking , the Co-Ordinator of the Lagos State special Task force on Lands Grabbers,  Mr. Owolabi Arole noted that in order to drastically reduce incidences of land grabbing and encourage private developers, the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016 establishes a task force to enforce the provision of the law and vested in it, power
to arrest offenders.

Some of the communities where Land Grabbers are most notorious in Lagos State at the momentare Okenla Village, Idake Village, Ajaooki Village, Ladegbole Village, Imedu Village, Iratirin Village, Obadimisi Village, Shekina Alo Village , Fowoseje Village , Iraboko Village, Adamatiye Community, Ogunro Community and Sorogun Community ; all in Ibeju -Lekki as well as Ogombo Village Eti-Osa, and Oshiun Village in Kosofe, Lagos State.

Adeola Dayo Harry

Head, Public Affairs
Lands Bureau.

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