The Oyo State Government has demolished illegal buildings constructed on government land in the Podo area, along Top One Garden in Oluyole Local Government, and in Dizengoff, Kolapo Ishola, both in the Ibadan capital.
Williams Akin-Funmilayo, the state Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, oversaw the demolition exercise on Wednesday and cautioned land grabbers against taking over government property.
Speaking on the drill, Akin-Funmilayo said, “The subject lands are state government properties, and we won’t tolerate any form of encroachment or illegal occupation.” The individuals working on the land are not the real owners, but land grabbers.”
He quoted Section 3, Subsection 1 of Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2017, that stipulates a maximum of 15 years jail term for any individual found guilty of land grabbing or related offense.
Akin-Funmilayo went on that the government had served the inhabitants of the Podo area along Top One Garden with notices of revocation, which was followed by an advertisement in a national daily newspaper on September 25, 2012.
“The land was also gazetted the same year, indicating its acquisition for a neighbourhood market,” he added.
He noted that despite these measures, some occupants challenged the acquisition in court but lost the case, as the judgment was delivered in favour of the state government.
The commissioner, however, assured that the government was open to compensating landowners with valid Certificates of Occupancy.
He reiterated Governor Seyi Makinde’s stance against land grabbing, saying, “The governor has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing and is committed to ensuring that the state’s assets are used for the benefit of all citizens.”
