The Ondo State Government announced that it has demolished over 40 houses and structures in Akure because they were erected on land designated for industrial purposes.
The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lola Fagbemi, disclosed this on Monday in the state capital.
Fagbemi said the demolition was carried out to reclaim the government’s property in the possession of land grabbers, noting that the state government cannot continually fold its hands and watch its land be encroached upon by unscrupulous elements and land grabbers.
The commissioner noted that the plots of land were acquired by the defunct Western Region government and designated as industrial land for economic, commercial, and other industrial purposes.
“This place remained an industrial area upon the creation of Ondo State on February 3, 1976, and this is one of the greatest immovable assets we have as a state,” Fagbemi added
“Records at our disposal also showed that compensations were paid to the initial owners when the land was first acquired.
“We are using this medium to call on the people affected that this area is an industrial area and no residential building will be allowed there. It should as well be noted that the government cannot in any way be intimidated.
“Let it also be on record that none of the houses built on this land has the required land documents to prove their ownership, no C of O and neither do they have land use permit. These are lands taken over by land grabbers.”
According to her, the ongoing demolition was the first phase, and she declared that anywhere such impunity was observed, it would be visited to prevent Akure from becoming an unplanned city.
Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, Raimi Aminu, stated that the demolition was embarked upon because the government could not allow anything to override its determination to bring strategic development to the state.
“The land grabbers had taken over the land from the original owners, divided the land into between 700 and 1,000 square metres each, sold them for residential purposes, and prevented the real allottees from stepping foot on their land,” Aminu stated.
Aminu, however, urged individuals affected by the demolition who had title documents, including a survey plan, a Certificate of Occupancy, and building approval, to approach the government.
Source: Guardian
