By Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reassured residents of the State of his administration’s commitment to implementing the Benin City Master Plan, just as he vowed to recover all lands illegally acquired or sold by land grabbers in the State.
Governor Obaseki said this during the Workshop on Phase I of the Edo State Regional Development and Benin City Master Plan organized by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development at Government House, Benin City.
The Governor noted that land administration in the State over the centuries was governed by a strong traditional institution which made the State proud of its uniqueness as one of the best organized cities in West Africa and beyond.
He, however, emphasized that activities of land grabbers over the years coupled with lack of political will by successive administrations to fight the menace of land grabbing and put in place a master plan, have negatively affected land administration in the State.
He said: “We are lucky that in Edo State, for over 700 years, we developed a land management system that everybody knows about, and everybody respects. The Benin Empire is reputed to be one of the most organized in Africa.
“The Portuguese who visited us hundreds of years ago talked about how orderly our city was, how planned everything they met was. So, we have an advantage as a people. The question is that almost 700 years after, why do we have a crisis?
“For a long period, because we had a monarchical system of government headed by the Oba that enforces rules, everybody obeys. The King had the land in trust for his people, and that was our history.”
Obaseki added: “Then came the Military, we didn’t have a crisis, because the military in their own wisdom came up with the land Use Act to now vest all the land under the supervision of the Governor, because somebody has to be responsible not only for administering the land, but also planning so that everything can fall in place.
“But over time, particularly since the late 80s, everything broke down and all the plans that were put in place, nobody respected them anymore. The last real plans we had in Edo State were under our late former Governor, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.”
Governor Obaseki reiterated his administration’s resolve to prosecute all land grabbers, promising that all lands forcefully possessed by land grabbers will be returned to their rightful owners. In his words, “Every inch of land that has been taken by land grabbers from the owners will be retrieved back to the rightful owners.”
He also frowned at the activities of some residents for building on natural waterways and warned that his administration will not allow such a negative trend to continue and promised to leave a legacy document for the future generation.
“If there is one thing this Government is going to leave behind, it is a masterplan for Edo, looking at the next 30 years so that the children will have a direction,” he said.
He maintained that going forward every community will register their lands with the Government with proper layouts and in conformity with the Benin City Master Plan. He urged residents of the State to get their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and validate their lands with the EdoGIS so as not to fall prey to the antics of land grabbers.
Responding to some questions from participants on the Benin City Masterplan and the Edo New Town Project on Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe Road in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, the Governor explained that the stakeholder engagement was aimed at enlightening residents of the State about the master plan, its features, benefits and implementation strategy.
He also maintained that the swift move by the Government to reclaim the Government land measuring 1229 hectares from land grabbers was for the development of the Edo New Town Project.
He appealed to the traditional rulers of various communities present at the event and other participants to support the Government in its quest to put an end to the menace of land grabbing in the State.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Mrs Isoken Omo, while delivering a presentation on the Edo State New Town project, explained that the objective of the project is to decongest the city centre and pave way for development at the outskirts of Benin City.
She said that the New Town Project will be a model for developing other areas.
She assured the chiefs and other participants at the event that her Ministry will work assiduously for the realization of the Edo New Town Project as well as the goals and objectives of the Benin City Master Plan.
She highlighted the next steps for the master plan to include registration of a new layout for master plan integration, engagement of development partners for the new town pilot, and land registration sensitization campaign.
Similarly, Mr Ali Ajazi, a representative of Siraj Nigeria limited and consultant on the Benin City Master Plan project said that findings from their research revealed that previous master plans in Edo State failed due to lack of political will, weak institutional framework, lack of clear financing strategy, amongst other factors.
Participants at the event commended Governor Obaseki for his investment in the Benin City Master Plan and his relentless campaign against land grabbing in the State. They urged the State Government to sustain the stakeholders’ engagement and extend the developmental plans to other senatorial districts of the State.
Participants at the event included the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, traditional rulers (Enigie) of over 20 communities, professionals from the building industry, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, amongst others.
