In order to ensure that all land related laws are harmonized and accessible, the Oyo state House of Assembly has organized a public hearing on Oyo State Land Administration and Control Bill, 2020.
The public hearing was held at the House of Chiefs by the Committee on Land, Housing and Survey on Wednesday.
Addressing the stakeholders, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bamidele Adeola, who is a member representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju state constituency, said that land dispute in the state is now rampant and hazardous, adding that the House of Assembly has made moves to curb this menace.
He added that the bill, if passed into law, will establish a Committee to be named Land Administration Committee in each of the local governments in the state and at the state level.
According to him, “land serves as an important factor of development especially in the human empire. Everybody desires to own his or her own land because it’s important to the development.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, distinguished members of the public, it is a known fact that land disputes in the state are now rampant and hazardous, some are unnecessarily Exhausting people’s pockets in the name of collecting ransom on the land before the rightful owner could access his land for development.
“There are a number of challenges confronting citizens and residents of Oyo State regarding land matters that are pending in the Law Courts, such as Land grabbers, land ownership, boundaries, acquisition collapse Buildings among others.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the House of Assembly in its quest to curb these menaces enacted Laws such as (i) Real Properties Protection Law 2016, (ii) Survey Law 2008, (iii) Public Land Acquisition Law, 2000 etc.
“All these laws are to take care of land related matters in the state. After sometime, this 9th Assembly noticed that there is need for a law that will drive all extant land related laws in the state for it to serve the expected purposes. This informed the presentation of a bill that is here before you titled “Oyo State Land Control and Administration Bill, 2020. The bill, if pass into law, will establish a Committee to be named Land Administration Committee in each of the local governments in the state and at the state level. This is expected to drive the extant land related laws in the state.
“For ease of reference, the House intends to harmonize all land related laws in the State to make it accessible including, Real Properties Protection Law, 2016, Survey Law 2008, Public Land Acquisition 2000, State Law 2000, Land Development (Road) 2000 and others.”
While presenting their input, representative of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Alhaji Toyese Lawal, urged the lawmakers to look into the land use charge and ground rent.
He also urged them to look into the encroachment into government land and other matters.
Also speaking, the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola urged the government to always endeavor to carry traditional rulers along in every matter that has to do with land.
Among the stakeholders present to present their inputs were Present at the event were the Ministry of Land, Housing and Survey, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Office of the Surveyor General, Nigeria Institution of Surveyor, Oyo State and other professional bodies and traditional rulers led by Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye; Olu of Igbo-Ora, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Basorun of Oyo among others.
Also in attendance were Hon Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele II); Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin; Majority leader, Hon Simeon Oyeleke, Hon Kazeem Olayanju, Hon Femi Julius, Hon Akintunde Olajide and other lawmakers.
