Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers – Lagos State Ministry of Justice

Lagos Sensitises Badagry Residents on Land Grabbing Laws

Posted on March 10, 2022

In an effort to rid the state of the menace of land grabbers and ensure that those found culpable of the crime are prosecuted, the State Government on Thursday organised a stakeholders forum for residents of Badagry Division The stakeholders meeting organised by the Ministry of Justice and the State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers is to inundate the residents of the Lagos State Taskforce on Land Grabbers Law, 2016. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (S.A.N) disclosed that the meeting is to intimate stakeholders on the Law and how it protects the rights of land owners, communities and indeed the State from the activities of Land Grabbers. Onigbanjo, who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the State’s Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey noted that the State is leaving no stone unturned to educate Lagosians on the negative effects of land grabbing as this has led to the break down of law and order, economic instability amongst others. The Commissioners further disclosed that the Ministry is working with relevant agencies of government for proper implementation of the Land Grabbers Law, 2016 so as to nip the menace in the bud. The Attorney-General however charged traditional rulers, whom he described as custodians of customary lands to move against the activities of Land Grabbers in their domains, while also sensitisiting the youths and other members of their Communities on government efforts on Land Grabbing. He warned that the State Government will not tolerate the activities of Land Grabbers in the State, noting that the Land Grabbers Law 2016 has provisions to punish offenders with up to ten years imprisonment and a fine up to the sum of five million naira or both. Also speaking, Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole said it is imperative to brainstorm with major Stakeholders on indigenous ideas to nip the activities of Land Grabbers in the bud. According to Arole, most land grabbers are often not indigents of the State, but unscrupulous elements who have found means of creating mayhem and to this end ,his Agency will not rest on its oars until it rid the state of land grabbing activities. On his part, the lawmaker representing Ojo Constituency 2, Olatunji Tijani said there is a clear line between Land Grabbers and Land Owners, adding that the menace of land grabbing is a result of lack of partnership among stakeholders and the never ending rot in the system. The Aladi ,Onijanikin of Ijanikin Kingdom,Oba Dr Momodu Afolabi Asafa clamoured for unity among traditionals rulers in the domain adding that land matters should not cause disaffection and disunity among residents Stakeholders at the sensitisation exercise who were drawn from various parts of the Lagos West Senatorial District called for more synergy between government, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to further stamp out the activities of Land Grabbers in the State. The stakeholders also attribute the rise in land grabbing activities to greed and illiteracy. The event with the theme; ‘’Land Grabbers, the Law and Your Rights’’ had in attendance law makers, judicial officials, traditional rulers, security personnel, representatives of religious bodies, land owners, residents amongst others.

Lagos Sensitizes Epe, Ibeju Communities On Landgrabbing, Property Protection Law

Posted on September 23, 2021

Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, sensitized residents of Epe and Ibeju communities on the nefarious activities of Landgrabbers and the State Property Protection Law. The State Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice who is also the Chairman Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN who spoke at a Stakeholders meeting on Land grabbing held at Jata Hall, Ibeju said the rising cases of Land grabbing is an issue of great concern to the State Government. “As part of the effort to address the issue of land grabbing in the state, the Lagos State Government enacted a law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, as well as violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in the State” Onigbanjo stated. He said resolving land grabbing issues is of great importance to the Sanwo-olu Administration. The Attorney- General who was represented by the Director, Office of the Public Defender , Dr. Babajide Martins stated that the menace of Land grabbers has imparted negatively on the growth of the real estate industry and investment. “It is a fact that property transactions in Lagos State have been greatly hindered by the activities of the Omo-Onile and Ajagungbales Martins said. While delivering a paper on the theme, “ Land grabbers, the Law and your Rights”, Martins, emphasized that the law on land grabbing that was enacted in 2016 still stands regardless of one’s status in the society. He explained some of the provisions of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016 and ln particular, Section 2(1) of the Law, which prohibits the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engaging in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos . Also, the Oba Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said that Land grabbers for decades have constituted a threat to property acquisition in Lagos, saying that there has been alarming reports of Land grabbing. While acknowledging the State Government efforts at curbing Land grabbing in Lagos, Oba Ogunsanwo noted that the community also has an important role to play in the ‘Greater Lagos initiative’. Ogunsanwo , however, implored the State Government and the Police to ensure immediate prosecution of identified land grabbers and their sponsors to serve as deterrent to other citizens.