Oyo state House of Assembly, on Wednesday, held public hearing on Oyo State Land Administration and Control Bill, 2020.
The bill if passed into law will harmonize all land related laws in the state to make it accessible.
Speaking at the hearing, the chairman of the committee, Honourable Bamidele Adeola, 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 move 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 Government in the State and at the State level.
His words: “Land serves as an important factor of development especially in the human empire. Everybody desires to own his or her own land because of its important to the development.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, distinguished Members of the public, it is a known fact that land dispute in the State is now rampant and hazardous, some are unnecessarily Exhausting people’s pocket in the name of collecting ransom on the land before the rightful owner could access his land for development.
“There are number of challenges confronting citizens and residents of Oyo State as regard land matters that are pending in the Law Courts, such as Land grabbers, land ownership, boundaries, acquisition collapse Buildings among others.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, House of Assembly in its quest to curb these menace 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 Government 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 these includes, Real properties protection Law, 2016, Survey Law 2008, Public Land Acquisition 2000, State Law 2000, Land Development (Road) 2000 and others.”
While speaking on thier 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 government to always endeavor to carry traditional rulers along in every matters that have to do with Land.
Present at the event were Hon Bamidele Adeola (Iseyin, Itesiwaju) Chairman of the committee, 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.
Also in attendance were Onpetu of Ijeru; Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye; Olu of Igbo-Ora, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Basorun of Oyo and other traditional rulers.
Also present were Representatives of Ministry of Lands Housing And Survey, Surveyor General and other relevant professional Bodies.