EXCLUSIVE: Get professional Surveyor for genuine landed property- Ex-Oyo NIS Chairman, Lamidi Waheed Abiodun, fnis

 

By

Olawale Ogunbusola

 

 

The Immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Oyo State Branch, Alhaji Waheed Abiodun Lamidi has called intending land owners to engage Professional Surveyors for genuine land property.

Speaking with newsmen on Friday, the Registered Surveyor noted that land grabbing has become a social menace in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

He said failure of intending land owners in Oyo State to consult Professional Surveyors is a pointer to running into the nets of land grabbers.

He added that many intending landowners do not make verifiable facts about lands for acquisition owing to their anxiety.

Explaining the impacts of ongoing 110 kilometre Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road across six Local Government areas in Oyo State including Egbeda, Ona-Ara, Lagelu, Oluyole, Akinyele and Ido, saying much affected are victims of land grabbers.

The Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors noted that land grabbing may not be totally eradicated if due legislations are not put in place.

Alhaji Lamidi who said the 1978 Land Use Act empowers the State Government to superintend over lands, said lands acquired for public use can be challenged in court by the affected people if such land is not used for the purpose it was acquired after 10 years, or when the reason for which it was acquired was diverted.

The Professional Surveyor who lauded the developmental plan of the government on the Ibadan Circular Road, urged the Government to relieve the affected residents who, or may present a genuine document for adequate compensation.

”The Lagos-Ibadan Road was opened in 1976. Then, the only developed part was Agugu Area. Other neighbouring communities were greatly undeveloped. Today, the corridor of the road has been greatly developed. This I will say, it is a good plan by the government to develop art of the Ibadan-Circular Road. But, the affected residents should be compensated duly”, he said.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Lamidi, while calling on Governor Seyi Makinde led administration to make public the Ibadan Circular Road Acquisition to repose confidence on the public, warned intending land owners from acquiring lands from either aggrieved family or unprofessional surveyors against future loss.

“Look at Ilorin-Ibadan Road which was acquired in 1972, see when construction started on it? Many have built on the mapped road. Only those who engaged professional surveyors were saved from the loss. They made due verification, not minding payment involved for the consultation. We must learn from this now”, he said.

He advised the affected residents to acquire survey plan, building plan, others necessary documents to formalize their ownership of landed property against land grabbers and future compensation, where the need may arise.