The Oyo State Government has warned the Federal Government against creating confusion over ownership of certain properties within the state, insisting that the lands were lawfully revoked and reallocated after years of abandonment and misuse.
The warning came from Akinfunmilayo Williams, the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, during a press briefing in Ibadan. He was responding to a recent notice by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, which cautioned Nigerians against buying or claiming ownership of several federal properties in Oyo State.
Among the properties listed were:
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Africa Regional Centre for Engineering Design and Manufacturing (ARCEDEM) at Iwo Road
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Federal Low-Cost Estate and Site and Services at Idi-Ayure
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Federal Housing Scheme in Saki
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National Strategic Grain Reserve at Iyande
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Radio Nigeria property at Basorun
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National Horticultural Research Institute at Ajalubosa, Alesinloye
Williams explained that the state’s actions were guided by the Land Use Act of 1978, which vests authority over all land in a state governor. “Federal agencies are tenants on the land. When they abandon or misuse it for decades, it becomes our duty to reclaim and reallocate it for the benefit of our people,” he said.
The commissioner noted that some properties, like the ARCEDEM site on Iwo Road, had been abandoned since 1983, becoming derelict and posing security risks. After complaints and security reports, the state issued a notice of intent to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy in September 2020, formally reclaiming it the following month.
Williams also accused some federal agencies of bypassing state planning laws, adding:
“Certain federal establishments have been constructing buildings without state planning approval, assuming their federal status exempts them. This is a clear violation of Oyo State laws, and we will not tolerate it.”
The state emphasized that reclaiming and properly utilizing abandoned lands is crucial for urban growth, investor confidence, and public safety.
