Land grabbing: You must register your land with EDSG to prove ownership, Obaseki tells Communities

• Says action to improve land administration in progress

By Kingsley Abavo, Benin

Henceforth, it is now mandatory for Communities in Edo State to register their land with the State Government to prove ownership.

Governor Godwin Obaseki made the announcement during an interactive meeting with traditional and community leaders and other stakeholders across 30 communities in Edo South Senatorial District of the State, to review Government’s efforts at improving land administration in the State.

At the interactive session/workshop held in Benin City, the Governor pointed out that the registration of a community land is the only proof of ownership by the people of the community.

Other stakeholders at the meeting include the Nigeria Institute of Landscape Horticulturists, the Nigerian Institute of Architecture, the Nigeria Institute of Builders, Nigeria Institute of Engineers, Nigeria Institutes of Surveyors and Nigeria Institute of Town Planners, amongst others.

“Every community must come to register its land with the Government to enable us document it within our master plan. If you don’t register it, it’s not your own, the Governor said.

“Registration is now proof of ownership of community land and before you sell, you have to show us your layout which must conform with our master plan or else we will not allow you to sell.

“If there is one thing this administration will be leaving behind, it’s a master plan for Edo people, looking out for the next 30 years. As a Government, our plan is to give the State and the people a direction to follow.

“Our master plan will be our Bible as every building must conform with the master plan. We don’t want the issue of collapsed buildings in the State.”

Continuing he said; “There must be a building approval before building commences going forward. Every building must have a master plan.

“We are trying to make our cities beautiful and attract investors. Mistakes have been made but we can’t continue in that same way, going forward.

“We, as an administration, will put an end to the land grabbing issue in Edo State. Every inch of land taken by land grabbers from the owners will be retrieved and returned back to the owner and we will ensure that the owners conform with the State’s master plan.”

Asserting Government’s efforts to improving land administration in Edo, Obaseki stated; “Our C-of-O is the cheapest in Africa and I have instructed them to increase the rate from January 2023. I urge Edo people to do the needful and take advantage before it is increased.

“We have made substantial investment in Edo Geographical Information Service (Edo-GIS) and will not have a situation again where land grabbers will operate. When you do not have a master plan and a layout, there will be confusion.

“We are here to show you the master plan and how to ensure this is implemented to the fullest. This can’t be possible without your support. After the master plan, nobody will build any house going forward without a building plan.

“No more indiscriminate building of houses without conforming to our master plan. Every money stolen from victims by land grabbers will be returned. We must ensure they don’t exist again in our land. We are planning because we don’t want our State to fail.”

The Governor further stated, “The land is important to us because all we do is done on the land. For over 700 hundred years, we have developed a land management system that all are aware of and respect. The Benin Empire is one of the most organised in Africa in the way we carry out our affairs, as a State.”

Also speaking, Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu said, “Our administration will ensure that the issue of land grabbing is a thing of the past.

“The Enigies from various communities need to register their lands and ensure it’s gazetted to ensure that the land grabbing issue becomes a thing of the past.”