COORDINATOR, LAGOS STATE SPECIAL TASK FORCE ON LANDGRABBERS (LSSTF/LG)
Arole is a seasoned legal practitioner with over two decades of dedicated service to the Lagos State Government, specializing in litigation, legal advisory, public administration, and property law enforcement. Since assuming duty with the Ministry of Justice in 2001, he has traversed several strategic departments and agencies, building an outstanding record of public service and legal competence.
His career began at the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (2001–2007) where he prosecuted criminal matters and represented the State in high-profile cases. He then served at the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASPPDA) under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development from 2007–2012, contributing significantly to compliance and enforcement of planning laws.
From 2012 to 2013, Arole worked at the Directorate of Civil Litigation, representing the State in civil matters and advising on legal disputes. He was subsequently posted to the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (2013–2017), where he handled regulatory and legal matters relating to land use and planning approvals.
In 2017, he joined the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee, and also overseeing the Legal Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, providing expert legal services in matter arising in the activities of the Ministry and at the same time supervising the management of the estate administration of the Directorate (AG & PT) until 2018, when he was appointed Coordinator of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, a position he held until 2022. Thereafter, he served in the Directorate of Advisory Services (2022–2024), offering strategic legal opinions and government advisory.
Currently, Arole serves as the Director/Coordinator of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, a role he resumed in November 2024, where he continues to lead the fight against illegal land acquisition and enforce land rights in Lagos State with diligence and integrity.
Arole is known for his professionalism, administrative leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice and public service. His deep experience across multiple arms of government makes him a valuable asset in policy execution and legal reform.
Core Value of Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabber
* To protect the right to possession and occupation of any property in Lagos State and guide against the use of force or self help by encroaches in taking over any landed property by criminalising any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of owners.
Functions
*Receipt of Petitions from aggrieved members of the public
*Handling of Petitions by acknowledgement & by inviting parties for meetings
*Holding of fact finding meetings with the both parties and imploring the option of alternative dispute resolution
*collaboration with relevant Government MDAs for effective and proper implementation of the mandate.
* on-site inspections and operations of lands including government schemes.
FAQS
- There has been an increase recently on complaint about land grabbing on estates and individual lands in the state. What are the measures in place to address this concern?
The Office of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers was set up specifically to eliminate the menace of land grabbing by implementing the provisions of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law of 2016.
In handling cases we receive, the Task Force uses different means such as mediation and reconciliation. Parties are invited for a meeting, in the spirit of Audi Alteram Partem (fair hearing). In this way, we get to hear from both sides instead of jumping to conclusions.
There are instances where it is necessary the Task Force liaises with the Surveyor-General’s Office, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lands Bureau and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. There are some cases we receive as a matter of urgency, which requires the assistance of the Police.
- How many of such cases has the anti-land grabbing task force attended since its inception?
The Task Force has received about 3,000 petitions from the public since its inception. About 1000 have been resolved and about 1500 are currently being handled. Presently, there are some matters being prosecuted in Court.
- What should victims do when faced with such challenge?
The victims should never resort to self-help as the Task Force was set up specifically to combat this problem. Once a situation of land grabbing arises, the following steps should be taken:
- A petition should be sent to the Task Force, addressed to the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, with special attention to the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers
- The petition should include all the details, facts and photocopies of title documents in relation to the land in question
- An Affidavit should be attached to the petition with a passport photograph
- Details of the alleged encroachers should also be included in the petition, i.e. their names, addresses and mobile numbers
Once the above-mentioned steps are carried out and the necessary information is provided, both parties would be invited for a fact finding meeting. Observations from cases handled show that some of these issues emanate from lack of communication.
In matters of urgency, the Task Force liaises with the other stakeholders to provide a solution. For example, in a case where illegal construction is ongoing without the requisite planning permits, a letter would be sent to the Lagos State Building Control Agency asking that the illegal construction be looked into.
- There has been an increase recently on complaint about land grabbing on estates and individual lands in the state. What are the measures in place to address this concern?
The Office of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers was set up specifically to eliminate the menace of land grabbing by implementing the provisions of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law of 2016.
In handling cases we receive, the Task Force uses different means such as mediation and reconciliation. Parties are invited for a meeting, in the spirit of Audi Alteram Partem (fair hearing). In this way, we get to hear from both sides instead of jumping to conclusions.
There are instances where it is necessary the Task Force liaises with the Surveyor-General’s Office, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lands Bureau and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. There are some cases we receive as a matter of urgency, which requires the assistance of the Police.
- How many of such cases has the anti-land grabbing task force attended since its inception?
The Task Force has received about 4,300 petitions from the public since its inception. About 1,700 have been resolved and about 2,600 are currently being handled. Presently, there are some matters being prosecuted in Court.
- What should victims do when faced with such challenge?
The victims should never resort to self-help as the Task Force was set up specifically to combat this problem. Once a situation of land grabbing arises, the following steps should be taken:
- A petition should be sent to the Task Force, addressed to the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, with special attention to the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers
- The petition should include all the details, facts and photocopies of title documents in relation to the land in question
- An Affidavit should be attached to the petition with a passport photograph
- Details of the alleged encroachers should also be included in the petition, i.e. their names, addresses and mobile numbers
Once the above-mentioned steps are carried out and the necessary information is provided, both parties would be invited for a fact finding meeting. Observations from cases handled show that some of these issues emanate from lack of communication.
In matters of urgency, the Task Force liaises with the other stakeholders to provide a solution. For example, in a case where illegal construction is ongoing without the requisite planning permits, a letter would be sent to the Lagos State Building Control Agency asking that the illegal construction be looked into.