The Oyo State Government has initiated a crackdown on unauthorised private estate developers operating contrary to approved state regulations.
The state Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akin-Funmilayo Williams, led the enforcement team on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital.
The team visited some estates along the Akinyele-Iseyin Road axis of Ibadan.
During the operation, Williams noted that an increase in the number of private estate developers undertaking site clearing and construction activities without requisite approvals from the ministry was alarming.
He stressed that such unauthorised developments pose significant risks to orderly urban growth, environmental safety and the implementation of the state’s physical development policies.
According to the commissioner, the erring estate developers are not known to the state government and do not have any traceable address except on radio jingles.
He stated that there had been a series of complaints of illegal transactions, which had been traced to these unregistered estate developers.
“Hence, their activities need to be regulated in the public interest to prevent crises relating to land grabbing,” he said.
He explained that the enforcement exercise would curb indiscriminate development and enhance the ministry’s authority in regulating land use and urban development.
He advised the affected private estate owners/developers to regularise their title/planning approvals with the state government within three days of being served the contravention notice.
This, he said, would be to avoid the enforcement of Town and County Planning Laws and Regulations.
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