…says anti land-grabbing campaign not to dispossess communities of land
The Edo State Government will, on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, meet with stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community heads, surveyors and town planners, among others to review the state government’s efforts at improving land administration in the state.
The Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare disclosed this while briefing journalists after the weekly Executive Council (EXCO) meeting chaired by Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House in Benin City.
The Commissioner further noted that the state government’s anti-land grabbing campaign is not to dispossess communities of their lands, but to end the dastardly activities of landgrabbers across the state and improve land administration.
He said the campaign has received state-wide accolades from several Edo citizens, home and in the Diaspora that have suffered from the nefarious activities of land grabbers.
Nehikhare said, “A lot of Edo people are showing support to the government for the war against land grabbers. We are not going to dispossess communities of their land. All the government is asking is that before communities embark on sales of land, they should register that with the government so that we can tell them which area roads may be passing in two or three years’ time because there’s a general layout by the government for every area in the state. This will also help tackle flooding and other environmental problems.”
He further charged developers, “Before you buy land from any community, you should seek the government to know if there is an approved layout for that community. Check with the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGis) to confirm the availability of the land and ensure that the land does not have any encumbrance to avoid issues of land grabbers as well as the sales of such lands to multiple buyers so you don’t spend money and regret later.”
Speaking on the stakeholders’ meeting to improve land administration, the Commissioner said, “On 25th of this month, there will be a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss land administration in Edo State. We expect all the stakeholders to be present; we have extended an invitation to everybody, including traditional rulers, surveyors, town planners and the general public. We want everyone to come and contribute to this debate.”
Speaking on enumeration exercise to compensate persons with authentic claims to landed properties in the land repossessed for the state’s new town development project, he added, “There is no discrimination as we invited all that had claims to that area and if some people failed to come, that is not the fault of the government. Those that came, their data have been captured and those that have claims should report to the Edo State New Town Development Authority with their documents to be captured.”
