Olu Samuel
The Kogi state government has vowed to prosecute any one found encroaching in it’s landed property anywhere in the state.
A statement issued on Friday in Lokoja by the management of the state Bureau of Land stated that it was concerned by the scale of encroachment if government layouts in all the 21 local government area councils.
“Kogi State Government notes with great concern large scale encroachment on Government layouts in all the 21 local Government Area councils, particularly Lokoja and its environs,by Community leaders or their agents, traditional institutions, Land speculators and other individuals”. The statement reads in part.
The management stated that the state government through Bureau of lands, has duly acquired all these layouts since the creation of the state and has continued to pay Compensation to deserving beneficiaries.
“Government strongly advise the public to desist, with immediate effect, from interfering with Government layouts. This is a serious crime and perpetrators of this criminal offense would face the full wrath of the law”.
The bureau said that to ensure sanity in land administration within the State, Government will mandate Security agencies to fish out and begin arrest of individuals selling, buying or encroaching by whatever means,on Government layouts throughout the state.
All transactions on land within the State must be verified from Kogi State Bureau of lands by all parties involved to ensure the plot in question does not fall within Government interest.
All allocations by Community leaders or their agents, traditional institutions, stakeholders and other individuals must be approved by Bureau of lands as directed by the governor,Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo
The bureau said that all documents issued to allotees by Government, traditional institutions, Community leaders or their agents, and other individuals must be presented for validation by Government through Bureau of lands adding that failure to revalidate attracts forfeiture of land with attendant consequence of revocation and immediate re-allocation.
The bureau said that the Urban center (Lokoja & its environs) is under the control and administration of State Government, so no Community shall take possession or sell any land (within 16km radius) without the consent of Government through Bureau of lands.
They said that the Public, in their own interest, must desist from patronizing middlemen. They are not known to Bureau of lands.
“The Public is advised to seek information on land allocation from Kogi State Bureau of lands.It is important to get these information before attempting to involved in any land transactions adding that the law stipulates severe punishment for individuals found encroaching on Government layouts.