‘Lagos will not tolerate land grabbing activities’

PHOTO: Architecture Lab

The Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Lagos State, Kehinde Joseph has said the state government will not tolerate land grabbing activities, as it would be firm in implementing its property protection law.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme on the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016, organised by the Office of Civic Engagement, Joseph said before now, property acquisition in the state was a nightmare, while acquiring land from land holding families, communities and individuals was fraught with fear and uncertainty.

“Many communities were ransacked and property wantonly destroyed while government acquired land were not spared, as such were trespassed with impunity. There is no gainsaying the fact that a lot of people lost their lives as a result of this brigandage. People were denied the enjoyment of their property which they acquired through their hard-earned money,” he said.

Joseph also appealed to land owners in the state to take advantage of the reforms on perfecting title documents of land in the state, as it is easier and faster now to obtain these documents.

“As citizens, it is our civic responsibility to obey the law as ignorance of the law is no excuse. The State will not hesitate to wield the big stick against law breakers, as such people are undesirable in our communities. Our people deserve to live peacefully and enjoy their property. Anything short of this is not acceptable to the Lagos State Government,” he said.