NAN-HE-7
Land
By Lilian Chukwu
Lagos, May 3, 2017 (NAN) Mr Jide Oke, the former Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Lagos chapter, has called for a review of the Land Use Act of 1978 to tally with the realities of the changing environment.
Oke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the Land Use Act of 1978 was overdue for amendment.
“Obviously, the 1978 Land Use Act is very obsolete. Imagine a law formulated in 1978, that is 39 years ago but it is still in operation till 2017.
“Things change by the day and new developments happen everyday too. Let Nigeria change the land decree to suit the realities of the evolving world.
“The land inherited from the forefathers needs to be left to the those who inherited it. No individual or government should wake-up any day to claim ownership of such land,’’ Oke said.
He said that the review would make transfer of land ownership easier and also enhance general economic development.
The ex-NIQS chairman added that the land tenure system being practised in the country, as provided for in the Act, was posing great challenges to the development of the building construction industry.
Oke, also a managing partner, Jims Partnership Ltd., suggested that the Land Use Act should be removed from the constitution sub-sector to stand as an ordinary Act or Legislature that could be amended when necessary.
He lamented the fact that the 1978 Land Use Act gave the State Governments ownership right over all lands within its territory.
“The 1978 Land Use Act is hindering developments and investments in the building construction industry.
“This is due to the cumbersome and tedious nature of the processes of obtaining Certificate of Ownership (C of O), development permit, layout permit and building approval, among others.
“That is why a review or removal of the 1978 Land Use Act is very necessary such that ownership of land will be for the original/rightful owners rather than the State Governments,’’ Oke said. (NAN)
LUC/COF/YEMI
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Yemi Idris-Aduloju