23.7 C
Asaba
Sunday, November 24, 2024

Obiodeh Warns Against Land Encroachment, Default In Ground Rent

BY SUNDAY EGEDE

DELTA State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Goodnews Obiodeh has taken a tough stance on land encroachment, warning in­dividuals and communities to stop trespassing on government acquired lands or face the legal consequences.

The Commissioner gave this warn­ing in his office in Asaba during a meeting with representatives of Atakiako (Egbedemi) family of Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state.

Obiodeh emphasized that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria vested ownership of all lands, which were acquired by the Governor for the service of public interest.

He, therefore, advised commu­nities, which are hosts to govern­ment acquisitions, to always verify properly and check with the various field offices of the Ministry before development or sale to avoid being prosecuted for criminal trespass, reminding them that ignorance of the law was not an excuse for breaking the law.

He, also, warned individuals buy­ing and building on state government lands to desist from such act, adding the Town Planning Offices will not approve illegal buildings on such lands, even as he said that such prop­erty, if approved, will be demolished and such encroachers prosecuted.

The commissioner, therefore, cautioned against forceful occupa­tion of government lands across the State as the resultant disobedience of the law will lead to heavy losses on their part.

According to him, the warning was in consonance with the State Government’s resolve to recover all government lands which have been encroached, adding that this was recently demonstrated through the demolition of illegal structures on Dennis Osadebay University land in Anwai-Asaba.

He said the state government’s stance aims to maintain respect for rule of law, orderliness and tackle the menace of land grabbers and unscrupulous persons who hide under the guise of ignorance to sell government lands.

The commissioner, however, ad­vised those who might have errone­ously built on state lands without approval to come forward to the Ministry. He further used the op­portunity to charge property owners with Certificates of Occupancy to pay their outstanding ground rents to avoid penalties and other unpleas­ant consequences which could lead to revocation.

Responding, Prince Andrew Og­bodu, the family Regent and Spokes­man said they were unaware of the state government acquisition and, therefore, appealed to the Commis­sioner to help them with information on the size of the acquisition as well as a delineation of the boundaries to enable them identify areas belonging to the state government.

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay Connected

1,200FansLike
123FollowersFollow
2,000SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest Articles

×