The Oyo State Government is set to review the allocation of Government Reserved Areas at Akitipiti in Oyo and Oke Anu in Ogbomoso.
This, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, said was in fulfilment of the State Government’s promise to decongest Ibadan, during his duty tour to Oyo and Ogbomoso GRAs.
Abdu-Raheem revealed that the lands at Oyo and Ogbomosho ends of the State have been allocated for over 10 years without any development carried out on them.
He said the lands, which could serve as sources of revenue for the state government, are being left to waste away.
The Lands helmsman further said the allocations will be reviewed and revoked where necessary, while calling on the Oyo and Ogbomoso GRA land owners to be ready to develop their plots of lands or have them revoked.
He said: “We are here at Oyo and Ogbomoso to see the state of things at our GRA’s.
“What I see here is very disheartening.
“A lot of people are in need of land here and this can even help in boosting the revenue drive of the government.
“Most of the people who acquired the lands here did not even bother to develop them.
“We will go through each of their files and revoke where necessary.”
Abdu-Raheem added that the Seyi Makinde-led administration wants to decongest Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, and in order to achieve this, lands in neighbouring towns needed to be developed.
“I need to further assure you anyone that is interested in acquiring lands at Oyo and Ogbomoso may visit the Ministry for guidelines, but be sure that only those who mean business will get it,” he added.
Recall that the Commissioner had earlier visited various state-owned housing estates as well as GRAs in the State.
The Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary as well as some other Directors of the Ministry, also visited various offices of zonal land officers, surveyors as well as town planners in Oyo and Ogbomoso.
