There is controversy surrounding the demolition of properties at Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe road. When did government acquire the land and what is the plan for the area?
ACQUISITION of the land for the new city project was concluded in July 2017, which covers 1,229 hectares of land that has now been divided into four portions. The first portion is being reclaimed at the moment, covering over 350 hectares of land, with a green forest reserve that terminates on both sides of the Ogba River.
How come the government allowed so much encroachment on its land all these years?
Prior to the construction of a 32-kilometre road link to Obayanto, there was no encroachment on the area. However, as of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a huge plantation cultivated in the area. Traditional homes, however, were within the forest area, with mud houses.
In the wake of the pandemic, youths in the four communities of Okoroma, Obagie Nevbosa, Obayanto 1 and Ewhrekpen, entered the site and started selling the land.
They sold all the palm trees. Not up to 10 per cent of the palm plantation stands today. The level of degradation and deforestation that has taken place is alarming. The government plan is a city with green areas.
What is the fate of developers and individuals with valid title documents in the repossessed land?
Land matters are sensitive and the government is committed to restoring sanity in land administration in Edo State.
The new town project in the Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe area is the first step.
This does not concern only government land. Private property rights must also be respected. As regards the ongoing project, the state government has directed individuals and groups with valid title documents to land property to come forward with their documents for verification at the project site. The exercise is being carried out by the Edo State New Town Development Authority, whose officials are stationed at the project site.
What level of community relations did government embark on before this current initiative?
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, constructed the road to help the community, but they used it as an occasion for abuse.
The government made a series of announcements that the area is a government acquisition. A drone was flown round the area for imaging to ascertain what is on the ground and to ensure that everybody who legally owns their land is entitled to compensation.
For compensation to be paid, there must be an enumeration, but the hostility by the communities did not allow enumeration to take place.
The government invited them to several meetings and a stakeholders’ conference was held, where 400 employment slots were offered to them. Each community was given 100 slots. They agreed and they gave a date for a meeting.
On that day, they killed two officials and pursued other government agents from the community. They were asked to bring community liaison officers. There was a plan for a town hall meeting, as well.
The governor met with the Enogie of Obagie to discuss the matter, but even with that, they kept on selling the land. Those who bought land from them began to build day and night, with some of the buildings built in five or six weeks. It got to the point government agents from the ministry could not even use their vehicles because of attacks.
The day the staff from the government came with the State’s Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS) to do perimeter and re-establishment, they held them and pulled their clothes into the community. There have been announcements asking them to stay away from the area.
How does Governor Obaseki’s war on land grabbing affect other communities with similar problem?
The governor has declared war on land grabbing and charity of course must begin at home. If the governor cannot take his own land back, how can he give assurance to his people that he can help them?
The government in the past was just been playing politics with such things. The Community Development Association (CDA) was proscribed, it became illegal but it did not stop them.
In that site, a lot of people sold different sizes of land, a 100 by 50, 100 by 200 and when people asked questions, they say the community had negotiated with the government and that the authorities had left it for them. Can the government do that without documentation? That is why it is about time to bring sanity into the system so that there can be hope for the people. The government does not want to create another slum. What is the next line of action for the government as regards this project?
The government wants a planned city where the pressure of urban development can be taken away from Benin so that we can regenerate the old city.
The initiative is meant to take possession of the entire land so that the enumerators can begin work. There must be topographic study, as well as a soil test on the areas where high-rise buildings are being planned to ascertain the soil conditions.
