Lagos State government said it generated a total of N8, 114,191, 292.35 from land transactions between May 2015 and March 2016.
The government, however, paid N288, 214,771.48 as compensation to claimants on land affected by acquisition of property such as Dangote Refinery project (right of way), Ikorodu Bus Rapid Transit, (BRT) and Orile-Badagry road expansion.
Bode Agoro, permanent secretary in the Lagos Lands Bureau who disclosed this at the ongoing ministerial briefings to mark one year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said new housing schemes had been approved by the government.
“As part of efforts to satisfy the housing needs of residents, we are proud to announce that Governor Ambode approved the creation of three new residential schemes for allocation to the public.
“They are Safe Court Garden, Ijanikin, at N7,875,000.00; Treasure Park, Toga – Torikoh, Badagry at N6, 750,000, and Prince Court in Sangotedo, Lekki at N9,900,00,” said Agoro.
He explained that the money generated was made possible because the government blocked loopholes with the introduction of automated land administration system.
“We are resolved and committed to improve our ways of doing things, but more importantly, we pledge to infuse more transparency, accountability and integrity, individually and collectively, into land administration in the state.
“We assure the business community and corporate Lagos that the ease of doing business in the state will be improved upon earnestly.
“We are proud to inform you that our indefatigable and technology driven Governor has approved the development of the Integrated Land Administration and Automation System which provides for a fully integrated end to end Land Administration platform for sustainable and automated land administration environment among others.”
Agoro, who frowned at the menace of land grabbers, said to fast track the prosecution of any offender of the law relating to land grabbing, the judicial arm of the government has been fully equipped to deliver prompt judgment in line with section 52 and 53 of the criminal law of Lagos.”
He said that following incessant complaints and constant harassment being meted to residents from the activities of land grabbers, the legislative arm has proposed a bill refereed to ads a “bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in the state and for connected purposes”
He said the bill would become a law and take effect in the third quarter of this year. “It will criminalise the activities of the land grabbers with prison terms ranging from two years to ten years upon conviction.”
