The Oyo State Housing Corporation, on Friday, conducted a fact-finding mission to the Owode Housing Estate Phase II, Apata, Ibadan, urging those yet to develop their allotted lands in the estate to do so in order to avoid losing such lands.
This is sequel to an outcry by residents over insecurity and constant attacks by men of the underworld using the area as a hideout.
Residents of Owode Estate Phase II had earlier sent a Save Our Soul message to the Corporation, decrying the spate of insecurity in the estate, noting that the massive forest in the estate had become a criminal hideout and that the few residents, who had developed the plots, could not sleep with their two eyes closed.
Speaking shortly after conducting newsmen round the wide expanse of land, chairman of the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Hon. Demola Omotosho, pointed out that though the estate was inaugurated close to 50 years ago, only about 20 per cent of it had been developed.
He noted that the fact-finding mission to the estate with newsmen became imperative following protests from residents, who reported cases of burglary, rape, and violent attacks.
Omotosho pointed out that a recent incident involving a 76-year-old man who was brutally attacked, triggered the latest round of protests from residents, who had developed their plots but were made to live at the mercy of allottees, who failed to develop theirs and whose lands have become criminal hideouts.
He decried that despite the estate having been established in the 70s, there are close to 1,000 hectares of undeveloped lands.
Omotosho maintained that in order to curb the insecurity in the axis, the state government had called for a Public-Private Partnership to transform the Owode Phase II into a residential district.
Assuring residents that significant development would take place between now and June 2026, Omotosho noted that the Corporation would put up a Police Post, an Amotekun security base and also install solar-powered streetlights across the estate.
He added that similar interventions are underway in Ajoda New Town, where the first batch of 1,000 housing units are expected to be completed and delivered by June next year.
Fielding questions from newsmen on the likelihood of an outcry from allottees, Omotosho noted that many allottees have held the lands for decades without developing them, despite the laws of the Housing Corporation indicating that any plot that is not developed to a habitable level within two to three years would be revoked by the government.
Omotosho stated that the failure to develop the allotted plots had resulted in a grave danger for residents of the estate, with incessant attacks on residents including armed robbery, rape and other crimes perpetuated by criminals who are using the thick bushes, which a larger part of the estate have become, as hideouts.
He declared that the Corporation would revoke the undeveloped plots, while those who are ready to develop immediately should approach the Corporation for a discussion, explaining that the move to revoke is backed by the Oyo State Housing Corporation Law of 2001, which stipulates “that any plot left undeveloped for more than two years, or any allocation not fully paid for within twelve months, is automatically revoked.”
He said: “We have allocated lands to people and our desire is that they build. But now that they have not developed the lands, the lives of those who have built are in danger.
“These persons whose lands we are revoking have had our allocation papers for years; some for 25 years and some more. What have they been doing? When they were taking this land, they knew that if they would not develop the land in two years, it would be revoked.
“So, we are not the ones revoking the lands, it is the law and their unwillingness to build.
“If you have paid a certain amount of money, our law says you must finish paying within 12 calendar months. If you don’t pay, such a contract becomes null and void and I don’t even need to get back to you. So, that is the issue.”
He added that the government had to act on what he described as a matter of urgent importance raised by residents of Owode Estate Phase II, clarifying that if and when the Corporation goes ahead with the revocation of undeveloped plots, it should not be blamed for land-grabbing, because the laws of the Corporation were clear about failing to develop an alloted plot.
“We are Oyo State Housing Corporation and not Oyo State Land Corporation, so people cannot get land allocations and keep as souvenirs. If you have your land, we are not taking it away from you if you develop. The only reason we will revoke your land is when you don’t develop the land allocated to you.
“We are alive to our responsibilities. Our duty is to protect lives, enforce the law, and ensure that every estate under the Oyo State Housing Corporation becomes safe and livable,” he said.
Earlier, a representative of the residents of Owode Estate Phase II, Deacon Idowu Aladejobi, said that residents of the estate had, indeed, sent a Save Our Soul to the Oyo State Housing Corporation, noting that criminals frequently hid in the numerous undeveloped plots around the estate, launching attacks on residents both day and night.
According to him, the abandoned lands have become danger zones and that it took repeated complaints to get the attention of the Housing Corporation to identify owners of the undeveloped plots.
He added that residents recently staged a protest to demand effective security and adherence to the initial terms under which lands were allocated noting that the move to revoke the undeveloped plots is a step in the right direction.
He explained that the agreement signed with the Corporation clearly stated that any plot not developed within three years would be revoked and reassigned.
“We want the government to take action on these undeveloped plots. There are people who are ready to build. Those who are not ready should have their lands revoked and given to others who will develop it,” he said.
Aladejobi added that the estate currently lacks a steady security presence, leaving residents to live in fear.
“At night, we sleep with one eye open because anything can happen. We want the government to provide permanent security, if possible, a permanent Amotekun team within the estate,” he appealed.
Other residents, who spoke with newsmen, expressed hope that the inspection and promises made by the Oyo State Housing Corporation would mark the beginning of meaningful action to secure and fully develop the estate.
