The Oyo State Government has demolished illegal structures erected on government-acquired lands in the Podo area, along Top One Garden in Oluyole Local Government, and at Dizengoff, Kolapo Ishola area, both within the Ibadan metropolis.

The state Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, led the demolition exercise on Wednesday, warning land grabbers against encroaching on government property.

Akin-Funmilayo stated, “The lands in question are assets of the state government, and we will not tolerate any form of encroachment or illegal occupation. Those currently working on the land are not the rightful owners but are purely land grabbers.”

However he cited Section 3, Subsection 1 of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2017, which prescribes a jail term of up to 15 years for anyone found guilty of land grabbing or related offences.

The commissioner assured that the government was open to compensating landowners with valid Certificates of Occupancy.

He reiterated Governor Seyi Makinde’s stance against land grabbing, saying, “The governor has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing and is committed to ensuring that the state’s assets are used for the benefit of all citizens.”