We will enforce land laws on federal assets — Minister

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has said they will enforce strict compliance with land laws on the Federal Government assets, aimed at renovating, safeguarding and optimising their values in the country.

Dangiwa made the assertion during the Stakeholder-Citizens Engagement on Land Administration in Lagos, explaining that it will facilitate improved land control service and restore order in federal land and asset management.

He stated that it is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which has resolved to ensure strict adherence to the provisions of the law regarding the control and administration of its assets to maintain order.

The minister, who also toured various federal government facilities, field offices and housing projects in Lagos over the course, expressed concern over the poor condition of its assets and uncompleted housing projects, vowing to expedite renovation, upgrade, and completion.

“We’ve resolved to optimise these facilities; put them to good use so they can provide value to the government and Nigerians. Our aim is to fast-track the completion of projects to increase the stock of affordable housing for Nigerians in Lagos,” he remarked.

He declared, “We are planning to transform all these field offices into modern, functional workspaces to boost staff productivity and enhance operational efficiency in Lagos.”

On irregular developments along the Lagos shoreline, where unauthorised land reclamation and construction have occurred, Dangiwa reiterated the government’s authority over the titles and warned developers to comply with legal requirements for appropriate action.

“We have observed numerous haphazard developments along the shoreline, where people have reclaimed and built on land without proper clearance or authorisation. This is unacceptable,” the minister said.

He further explained that to curb these practices, the ministry issued a one-month ultimatum for all developers on shorelines to regularize their papers or risk having their properties revoked and demolished.

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“The Federal Ministry of Housing and Lagos State Government will be resolving land disputes, as both parties agreed to form a joint committee to resolve longstanding land issues and foster a coordinated approach to land administration.

“We are one government, and it is vital that we work as partners to ensure effective administration of federal government assets. Proper coordination will prevent exploitation by third parties and ensure compliance with the law,” Dangiwa stated.

The Stakeholder Engagement on Land Administration provided an opportunity for developers, residents, and key stakeholders to share insights and contribute to the Federal Government’s strategy for sustainable urban development.

The minister also noted that the interactive session was a critical step toward improving land administration in Lagos and delivering on the ministry’s promise of affordable housing and urban development for all Nigerians.

However, issues that came up during the engagement were: payment of double ground rates, issuance of CofOs, canal discharge and flooding in some Fed government estates, land ownership litigation and compensation, and deplorable road infrastructure in some estates.

“The ministry is ready to address the myriad of such challenges, hence the stakeholder-citizens engagement for the ministry to understand the needs and concerns of the citizens with a view to identifying areas for improvement,” Dangiwa stated.