The Oyo State Government has issued a stern warning to landowners in Owode Estate Phase II, threatening to revoke undeveloped plots following rising security concerns in the area.
Security Threats Prompt Government Action
The Oyo State Housing Corporation has declared that owners of undeveloped plots in Owode Estate Phase II, located in Apata, Ibadan, must immediately develop their lands or risk having them revoked. This decision comes as residents continue to raise alarms about increasing criminal activities in the estate.
According to the Corporation's findings, criminal elements have been using the thick, undeveloped portions of the estate as hideouts to carry out burglary, armed robbery, and violent attacks against residents.
Fifty Years of Underdevelopment
The Corporation's Chairman, Hon. Demola Omotosho, revealed shocking statistics during a fact-finding mission conducted on Friday. Despite the estate being inaugurated nearly 50 years ago, only about 20 percent of the plots have been developed, leaving approximately 1,000 hectares as potential criminal hideouts.
Omotosho cited a recent attack on a 76-year-old resident as a prime example of the dangers posed by the undeveloped plots. "We have allocated lands to people and our desire is that they build. But now that they have not developed the lands, the lives of those who have built are in danger," he emphasized.
Legal Basis for Revocation
The Housing Corporation chairman stressed that the planned revocation is firmly grounded in existing legislation. Under the Oyo State Housing Corporation Law of 2001, any plot left undeveloped for more than two years, or any allocation not fully paid within twelve months, is automatically subject to revocation.
"These persons whose lands we are revoking have had our allocation papers for years; some for 25 years and some more. What have they been doing?" Omotosho questioned. "When they were taking this land, they knew that if they would not develop the land in two years, it would be revoked."
He made it clear that the Corporation is not arbitrarily revoking lands but simply enforcing existing laws against unwilling developers.
Security Upgrade Plans
To address the security challenges, the state government has announced plans to transform Owode Phase II into a secure residential area through public-private partnership arrangements. The security enhancement measures include:
- Installation of solar-powered streetlights
- Establishment of a Police Post
- Setting up an Amotekun security base
Residents, represented by Deacon Idowu Aladejobi, have welcomed the government's move, noting that criminals frequently exploit undeveloped plots to attack those living in the estate. They have urged the government to provide permanent security presence to ensure safety for all residents.
The Housing Corporation has urged allottees ready to develop their lands to engage with the Corporation immediately, emphasizing that the revocation exercise is necessary to protect lives, restore security, and ensure the estate becomes fully livable for all residents.
