Law makers at the Lagos State House of Assembly have resolved to hold a public hearing on Land grabbing in a bid to proffer urgent and pragmatic solutions to the problem in the state.
The Law makers reached the agreement at Plenary monitored by our Correspondent on Tuesday.
According to the resolution, the planned stakeholders’ meeting would be all-encompassing involving the state government, the police, the judiciary, traditional rulers and others.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the plenary said land grabbing has become “a serious issue that is beyond disturbing. It is chaotic. Many people have been killed, some maimed and some locked up. without trial just because of the existence of some people who have turned themselves to land grabbers.”
Obasa frowned at cases where land speculators write petitions and with the connivance of security officials, the real owners of the properties are arrested, taken to Abuja and forced to sign undertakings that would bar them from the same land they bought from their toiling.
He added that land grabbers often attack new and developing areas in Ikorodu, Epe, Ojo and others.
Moving the motion under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ earlier, member representing Musing Constituency 2 Hon. Kazeem Olayinka, implored the House to organise a meeting with the stakeholders to address the problem.
In his contribution, Member representing Eti-osa Constituency 2 Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stressed the importance of focusing on the enforcement of the law against land grabbing.
Yishawu advocated for the establishment of a dedicated agency to effectively handle cases in the state.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate harped on the need for stronger enforcement of the extant laws relating to land grabbing.
In another development, the House commiserated with the Olubadan-in-council over the demise of Oba Lekan Balogun, the 42nd Olubadan. The House also condoled the Nigerian Army over the killing of its personnel in Delta.
The lawmakers held a minute silence in honour of the departed while the Speaker directed the Clerk, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, to send a condolence letter each to the Olubadan-in-council and the Nigerian Army.