The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to conduct a public hearing aimed at addressing the issue of land grabbing and unlawful occupation of properties in the state.
The decision was made following the adoption of a motion on urgent public matters by Mr. Kazeem Olayinka (APC-Mushin II) during Tuesday’s plenary session.
It’s worth noting that the state government had previously enacted legislation to prohibit forceful entry, illegal occupation, and fraudulent activities related to land ownership in the state.
Olayinka emphasized the necessity for stronger enforcement of existing laws pertaining to land grabbing and proposed that the upcoming stakeholders’ meeting would involve various parties including the state government, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, traditional leaders, and other relevant stakeholders.
Speaking, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa (APC-Agege I) said land grabbing had become “a serious issue that is beyond disturbing. It is chaotic”.
He added: “Many people have been killed, some maimed and some locked up without trial just because of the existence of some people who have turned themselves to land grabbers.
“I wonder how somebody would just invade people’s properties and still exude such boldness and confidence, kill the owner or bring police.
“I have seen cases where land speculators write petitions and with the connivance of security officials, the real owners of the properties were arrested.
“The owners were taken to Abuja and forced to sign undertakings that would bar them from the same land they bought from their toiling.”
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