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Oyo Government Warns FG to Develop Idle Lands or Face Repossession

Published by admin on October 24th, 2025.

Oyo Government Warns FG to Develop Idle Lands or Face Repossession

The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed its constitutional control over all lands within the state, warning the Federal Government to ensure that properties under its ownership are properly developed or risk being reclaimed.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, made this known during a press briefing at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. His remarks followed a recent public notice issued by the Federal Government warning individuals and organisations against encroaching on certain federal lands in the state.

Akin-Funmilayo emphasized that under the Land Use Act of 1978, all land in Oyo State is vested in the governor, noting that federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) only hold rights of occupancy and must utilize such lands for public benefit or risk forfeiture.

> “Our position is not confrontational,” he clarified. “It is a proactive step to safeguard state assets, attract investors, and ensure that public land serves the best interests of the people of Oyo State.”

The commissioner listed several federally owned facilities that have been abandoned or left largely unused, 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 premises, and the Horticultural and Research Practices site.

He explained that many of these facilities, allocated decades ago during the military era, have since become derelict, posing security concerns and sometimes serving as hideouts for criminal elements from neighbouring states and even across the border with Benin Republic.

Akin-Funmilayo also clarified the difference between ownership and the right of occupancy, stressing that the state government retains the legal authority to revoke underutilised land and reassign it for productive purposes.

According to him, the government’s stance is guided by fairness, safety, and economic growth. He criticised what he described as a “culture of impunity” among some federal agencies that ignore state urban planning laws when executing projects in Oyo.

He cited examples such as the Federal Secretariat Complex and ongoing developments near the Ibadan Railway Station, which he said had raised issues related to safety compliance and proper building setbacks.

The commissioner urged residents and investors to disregard reports suggesting friction between the state and federal authorities, assuring that Oyo State’s priority is to promote responsible land use and maintain a secure, investment-friendly environment.