Oyo State Government, yesterday, reaffirmed its constitutional authority over all lands within the state, cautioning the Federal Government to ensure that all federally-owned lands in Oyo are promptly developed or risk being reclaimed by the state.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, stated this during a press briefing held at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, while reacting to a recent public notice by the Federal Government cautioning individuals and organisations against encroaching on certain parcels of land in the state.

Akin-Funmilayo clarified that under the Land Use Act of 1978, all land in the state is vested in the governor, stressing that federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are merely “tenants” who must use their allocated lands for the public good or risk forfeiture.

“Our action is not hostile. It is a necessary measure to protect the state’s assets, restore investor confidence, and ensure that public land is used for the benefit of our people,” he said.

The commissioner identified six major federal facilities that have been either abandoned or grossly underutilised, including the African Regional Centre for Manufacturing, Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, Idi-Ayunre, Federal Housing Scheme, National Strategic Grain Reserve and Silos, Radio Nigeria land within BCOS premises, and the Horticultural and Research Practices site.

He noted that many of these facilities, allocated during the military era, have been left idle for decades, creating security risks and serving as potential hideouts for criminal elements operating from neighbouring states and even across the border from the Republic of Benin.

Emphasising the distinction between land ownership and right of occupancy, the commissioner explained that the state reserves the power to revoke underutilised lands and reallocate them for productive ventures.

The commissioner added that the government’s actions were guided by the principles of fairness, security, and economic growth. He criticised what he described as a “culture of impunity” among some federal agencies that disregard state planning laws while undertaking projects in Oyo State.

The commissioner cited examples such as the Federal Secretariat Complex and ongoing construction near the Ibadan Railway Station, which, he said, had raised concerns over building setbacks and safety compliance.

He called on investors and residents to disregard misleading publications suggesting conflict between the two tiers of government, assuring that the state’s intention was to ensure responsible land use and foster a secure environment for investment.