Land grabbing, the illegal acquisition of land through force, intimidation, or manipulation, is a serious issue in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and Ogun states.
It is driven by rapid urbanisation, increasing land values, and weak enforcement of land ownership laws. The menace, especially in Lagos and Ogun states, has far-reaching social and economic consequences, affecting property development, security, and public confidence in the legal system.
It has become a critical issue, threatening property rights and the overall peace and security of landowners.
This practice has far-reaching social and economic impacts, including disruptions to property development, commercial activities, and eroding public confidence in the judicial system.
The land grabbing syndicates, often involves powerful individuals and gangs known as “Omo Onile,” target legally owned land. These gangs employ tactics of harassment, violent eviction, and even fraudulent land sales to dispossess rightful landowners. In Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, the high demand for land has intensified disputes and conflicts, often leading to violent confrontations and displacement of rightful landowners. Similarly, Ogun State, with its fast-growing residential and industrial estates, has become a prime target for these illegal activities. Land grabbers there exploit legal and administrative loopholes to seize properties, undermining the economic growth of these areas.
Recognising the severity of this issue, some states took legislative steps to curb land grabbing. In 2016, Lagos State introduced the Property Protection Law to criminalise the illegal occupation of land and to protect landowners from forcible eviction. Ogun State followed with similar legislation, aiming to address the problem head-on. However, despite these laws, enforcement remains a significant challenge. Corruption within the system, coupled with the power and influence of land-grabbing cartels, has made it difficult to fully enforce the laws. Judicial processes are often slow, and victims are left frustrated as they struggle to reclaim their land.
In an effort to bolster the legal framework, the Lagos State government is considering a review of its land-grabbing laws to better reflect the current realities of the problem. The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, revealed that the state had received over 7,500 petitions concerning land grabbing in recent years. While significant strides have been made in addressing the issue, with 4,283 disputes resolved and 205 arrests made, more work is needed to curb the activities of these syndicates.
It will be recalled that in 2016, Lagos State established a Special Task Force on Land Grabbing, under the Ministry of Justice, to tackle the activities of land grabbers head-on.
The task force has been resolving numerous disputes, yet the scale of the problem remains daunting.
The stakeholders’ meeting, themed “Safeguarding Possessory Rights in Lands: The Role of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers,” was convened to foster dialogue and explore collective solutions to the menace of land grabbing.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, highlighted the grave consequences of land grabbing in Lagos, including the destruction of property and loss of lives. He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in tackling this issue and reiterated the commitment of the Sanwo-Olu administration to eradicating land grabbing.
The economic and social impacts of land grabbing are severe. Property transactions in Lagos and Ogun have been hindered by the activities of Omo Onile and other land-grabbing syndicates. Business operations and residential developments are frequently stalled, as disputes over land ownership create uncertainty in the real estate market. Moreover, the violent nature of land grabbing has led to conflicts, destruction of property, and, in some cases, loss of lives. Communities in Lagos and Ogun live in constant fear of being forcefully evicted from their properties by armed groups
To effectively tackle the menace of land grabbing, experts and stakeholders are calling for the establishment of special tribunals to handle land-related cases in Ogun State. This would ensure a faster judicial process and a more efficient resolution of land disputes. Additionally, there are calls for more stringent enforcement of existing laws, including the Lagos State Property Protection Law of 2016, which prohibits the use of force or self-help in land disputes.
Traditional leaders such as the Elejigbo of Langbasa, HRM Oba Hafeez Olakunle Badiru, have also voiced concerns over the growing threat posed by land grabbers. He urged the state government and law enforcement agencies to take swift action against identified land grabbers and their sponsors to serve as a deterrent to others.
The menace of land grabbing in Lagos and Ogun states remains a pressing issue that requires concerted efforts from the government, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary. While the establishment of the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbing has provided some relief to victims, the sheer scale of the problem demands more aggressive measures. Stronger institutional reforms, improved land registration systems, public awareness, and stringent enforcement of land ownership laws are essential to safeguarding property rights and promoting economic growth in these regions.
Only through a comprehensive and collaborative approach can the devastating effects of land grabbing be mitigated, restoring peace, stability, and confidence in the land ownership system in Lagos and Ogun States.
Also speaking, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights crusader, Kabir Akingbolu in an exclusive chat with Saturday INDEPENDENT said that to tackle this menace, security operatives need to desist from supporting land grabbers.
He said, “We know that land grabbing is a big menace in the country especially in Lagos and Ogun state, to tackle it is not very easy but the biggest problem we have is the security agency
“The security agencies support the land grabber so much that they use the security agent to intimidate land owners. Sometimes they even pull down people’s properties in the name of claimant and eventually the court may give judgement that they don’t have the authority to have pull down the house, so it happens everywhere.
“I think the police should desist in interfering in land issues except where threat to life is involved, this is the position of the law as pen down by the Supreme Court but the police continue to meddle in land matters even some operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) meddle in a lot of situations.
No exception in all the security agencies, they all meddle in all these.”
He added that the traditional rulers also play major roles; they are also to ensure that in their domain, people are not just selling land to two three people and anybody found wanting in this regard should be dealt with traditionally.
These are the way the traditional rulers can assist us. Those are the only mechanisms we can use to solve this problem.
However, Akingbolu added that another one is quick delivering of justice. He added that some land matters had been in court for ages spanning 20-40 years and because of that, people will prefer to use self-help instead of going to court.
“So if the courts justices delivering system is quicker, I think it can reduce the menace of land grabbing in the country.”
Read the full article here
