In a statement, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, said the illegal laying out of acquired land by developers has distorted the set-out Land Use Plan in the state and was contrary to the Benin Master Plan and Edo State Regional Development Plan.
The Secretary to the State Government also said the Government’s attention “has been drawn particularly to the illegal sales and development of Edo State Government land covering 1,229 Hectares of land in Oke-Oroma, Obagie Nevbuosa, Obayantor 1 and Evbuekpen Communities in Ward 9, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area acquired through public notice and duly gazetted in No.2, Vol 3 of July 06, 2017.”
On the activities of real estate developers, he said, “Edo State Government has observed that some real estate developers have, of recent, embarked on the acquisition of land in various communities across the State, commenced parceling layouts and selling the same to unsuspecting members of the public without following the due process regarding layout designs.”
He said the practice was at variance with the extant rules that govern such estate developments in the state, noting, “This illegal laying out of acquired land by these developers distorts the set-out Land Use Plan in the State and runs contrary to the Benin Master Plan and Edo State Regional Development Plan.”
Ogie added, “Real estate developers are therefore warned to desist from this practice as you are required to liaise with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to obtain appropriate approval in accordance with the law.”