29th September, 2016
The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, on Thursday said that lawmakers would soon pass a bill to criminalise land grabbing in the state.
Adekunbi spoke when members of the National Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and the broadcast chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ogun visited him at the assembly complex in Abeokuta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the move by the Ogun Assembly is coming on the heels of a similar law which has since come into effect in neighbouring Lagos State.
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Aug. 15, had given his assent to a bill passed by the state lawmakers to outlaw land grabbing, bringing on board the Lagos State Properties Protection Law.
Adekunbi said the bill in Ogun was borne out of the need to ensure that the lives of the citizens were protected.
“Work is ongoing on the bill on land speculation; we have had stakeholders meeting on the bill and I want to assure you that very soon the bill will be passed into law.
“The issue of land grabbers will soon be a thing of the past,” the speaker said.
He also reassured professional bodies as well as relevant stakeholders in the land and property sectors of the speedy passage of the Landed Properties Bill, 2016.
Adekunbi charged Journalists across the country to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duty.
He praised the media for its efforts in the promotion and growth of the nation’s democracy.
The speaker said the House would continue to collaborate with the media, as it was necessary for the lawmakers to give account of their stewardship.
Earlier, Mr Akin Oyebola, the National President, National Institution of Surveyors, commended the House for its efforts to curb activities of land speculators.
Oyebola said that when the bill becomes law, it would reduce issues and rancour relating to land.
Also speaking, Mr Kazeem Olowe, the Chapel Chairman, commended the leadership of the House for maintaining peace between the legislature and the executive.