Lagos State Government has vowed that any culprit caught in the act of unlawful land grabbing in the state risks a jail term of 10 years in addition to N5 million fine.
The government made the disclosure at a stakeholders’ forum for residents of Badagry Division organised by the Ministry of Justice and the State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers in an effort to rid the state of the menace of land grabbers and ensure that those found culpable of the crime are prosecuted.
Represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Attorney General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said the forum was to inundate the residents of the Lagos State Taskforce on Land Grabbers Law, 2016.
The Commissioner stated that the meeting is to intimate stakeholders on the Law and how it protects the rights of land owners, communities and indeed the State from the activities of land grabbers.
Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey noted that the state is leaving no stone unturned to educate Lagosians on the negative effects of land grabbing as this has led to the breakdown of law and order, economic instability among others.
The commissioner further disclosed that the Ministry is working with relevant agencies of government for proper implementation of the Land Grabbers Law, 2016 so as to nip the menace in the bud.
The Attorney-General, however, charged traditional rulers, who he described as custodians of customary lands, to move against the activities of land grabbers in their domains, while also sensitising youths and other members of their communities on government efforts on land grabbing.
He warned that the State Government would not tolerate the activities of Land Grabbers, noting that the Land Grabbers Law 2016 has provisions to punish offenders with up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to the sum of N5 million or both.
Also speaking, Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole, said it is imperative to brainstorm with major stakeholders on indigenous ideas to nip the activities of Land Grabbers in the bud.
According to Arole, most land grabbers are often not indigenes of the state, but unscrupulous elements who have found means of creating mayhem and to this end, his Agency will not rest on its oars until it rid the state of land grabbing activities.
On his part, the lawmaker representing Ojo Constituency 2, Olatunji Tijani said there is a clear line between Land Grabbers and Land Owners, adding that the menace of land grabbing is a result of lack of partnership among stakeholders and the never ending rot in the system.
The Aladi Onijanikin of Ijanikin Kingdom, Oba Momodu Afolabi Asafa, clamoured for unity among traditional rulers in the domain, adding that land matters should not cause disaffection and disunity among residents
Stakeholders at the sensitisation exercise who were drawn from various parts of Lagos West Senatorial District called for more synergy involving government, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to further stamp out the activities of Land Grabbers in the state.
The stakeholders also attribute the rise in land grabbing activities to greed and illiteracy.
The event with the theme; ‘’Land Grabbers, the Law and Your Rights’’ had in attendance lawmakers, judicial officials, traditional rulers, security personnel, representatives of religious bodies, land owners, residents among others.
