Lagos Special Taskforce On Land Grabbers Plans Stakeholders' Meeting In Ikorodu

The Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers has disclosed plans to hold a stakeholders' meeting with the theme "Land Grabbers, The Law and Your Rights", at the Ikorodu Town Hall on Thursday, April 22, 2021. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Coordinator, Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole, the meeting was scheduled to explore avenues that will put a final stop to the activities of land grabbers in the State. He expressed concern that despite many successes already recorded by the Taskforce on Land Grabbers in the fight against unwholesome practices in Lagos, some recalcitrant and dubious-minded individuals still engage in the act.

The Coordinator said that Ikorodu Division was picked to flag off the stakeholders' meeting because of the prevalence of land grabbers in the areas, saying that a similar forum would hold in all six divisions of Lagos State.

Arole stated that the meeting will provide a good platform to evolve localised strategies that are most effective in tackling the challenges of land grabbing, adding that participants would interact and express their views on the appropriate measures that must be taken on the issue of land grabbers. His words: "Citizens must acquire landed property the right way, which must include having the C of O (Certificate of Occupancy). This will assist the Special Taskforce to determine the appropriate way or legal steps to take in resolving any encroachment situation. The Law is no respecter of persons regardless of the societal status of the people involved. It will definitely take its full course on defaulters".

Reiterating that Lagosians must ensure to bring to the attention of the Taskforce to any issue bordering on land grabbing, Arole urged complainants to address their petitions to his office or call the LSTFLG hotlines 09096667123 or 09020085005.

"The Lagos State Property Protection Law of 2016 is in full swing. The Law which prohibits forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed property, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in Lagos State prescribes severe penalties with various prison terms for guilty persons", the Coordinator asserted.