Oyo Govt to acquire unused, abandoned lands
NAN-H-87 Land
By Akeem Abas Oyo (Oyo State), Jan. 10, 2017 (NAN) The Oyo State Government says it will acquire all uncultivated and abandoned land in the state for agricultural development and economic emancipation.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi disclosed this on Tuesday at a town hall meeting organised by the state government in Akinmorin area of Oyo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the town hall meeting is the continuation of the government’s plan to acquaint the people with its activities and programmes.
Ajimobi said that the state government has the power to acquire any land in the overriding public interest if it was left unused and at no advantage to the owners and the public.
He noted that the state has 28,500 square kilometre in terms of land mass, which he said was the largest in the southern part of Nigeria.
“With this land mass, the state has comparative advantage in terms of agriculture. This advantage can be utilised in boosting the economy of the state.
“For instance, Oyo State has been adjudged the largest producer of cassava. The state can be more economically viable and self-reliant if cassava farming is vigorously pursued,” he said.
On the newly created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, Ajimobi emphasised the commitment of his administration to conducting local government election on Feb. 11.
He explained that the additional 35 LCDAs were created based on the 2003 gazette of late Gov. Lam Adesina’s administration.
Ajimobi said that the LCDAs so far created could still be adjusted if the government was convinced of the need to do so.
He said the creation of the LCDAs was based on the need to ensure development at the grass root level and promote political awareness among the people at the local level.
Ajimobi assured that the state government would not tamper with the boundary already established by the federal government but build the new LCDAs around the boundaries.
He assured the people of Oyo that the township road was expected to be completed within the next three months.
“So also the Atiba FM and the 10,000 metric tones silos under construction would be completed before the end of the year,” he said.
The governor said the Atiba FM upon completion would be one of the best digitised radio stations in Nigeria, while the 10,000 metric tones silos would be one of its kinds in the country.
On Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Ajimobi said he had agreed with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola to raise about N500 million for the re-opening of the institution.
He said that tertiary institutions in the state must be prepared to fund themselves as it is becoming very difficult for the state government to fund them.
NAN reports that the town hall meeting was attended by royal fathers and eminent personalities from Ogbomoso and Oyo towns. (NAN)
TAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola