Ibadan — The Oyo State Government has cautioned the Federal Government against “misleading the public” on the ownership of several properties in the state, insisting the lands in dispute were lawfully revoked after years of abandonment and non-use.
Addressing reporters in Ibadan on Thursday, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akinfunmilayo Williams, said Oyo acted “within the ambit of the Land Use Act 1978,” which vests control of land in a state in the governor.
“Our action is not hostile; it is a necessary measure to protect state assets, restore investor confidence, and ensure that public land is utilised for the benefit of our people,” Williams said.
His remarks followed a public notice by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development warning buyers to steer clear of listed sites it described as federal assets. The ministry, in a notice signed by Permanent Secretary Shuaib Belgore, said any transactions on those properties would be illegal and “at the buyer’s risk.”
The locations flagged by the ministry include:
- Africa Regional Centre for Engineering Design and Manufacturing (ARCEDEM), Iwo Road;
- Federal Low-Cost Estate and Site & Services, Idi-Ayure;
- Federal Housing Scheme, Saki;
- National Strategic Grain Reserve, Iyande;
- Radio Nigeria property, Basorun; and
- National Horticultural Research Institute site, Ajalubosa/Alesinloye.
Williams countered that the six sites had been derelict for decades, posing security risks and stalling urban growth. Citing ARCEDEM, he said the parcel allocated in 1983 had “become a jungle,” prompting the state to issue a notice of intent to revoke its Certificate of Occupancy in September 2020 and reclaim the land the following month. “It is embarrassing that a federal ministry now attempts to lay claim to land legally revoked five years ago,” he added.
The commissioner also accused some federal establishments of flouting state planning laws by erecting buildings without Oyo’s statutory approvals, arguing that “federal status does not confer exemption” from local regulations. He referenced concerns around compliance and safety at the Federal Secretariat complex and construction near the railway station.
“Oyo State will not tolerate non-compliance with our planning policies. We will not step back or allow excesses that disadvantage our people,” Williams said, urging the public to rely on official state guidance regarding the affected properties.
