Lagos State Government has reclaimed the encroached portion of Ikorodu Government Reserved Area (GRA) Scheme III, located in Odonla, Lucky Fibre axis of Ikorodu.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who disclosed this, yesterday, said that the state government had to dislodge the illegal occupants and return the affected portion of land to the original allottees that are with Certificates of Occupancy issued by the Lands Bureau.

According to Salako, the move has become necessary to restore confidence in government schemes, give deserved restitution to the rights of the original allottees and also forestall bastardisation of the scheme.

Salako said that the government action, which was prompted by the unlawful estrangement of the rightful owners from their property, the unconscionable development by usurpers, land grabbers and the deafening complaints of allottees, was a follow-up to the service of statutory notices, including the stop-work order of February 4, 2022.

He, therefore, warned that land grabbers parading themselves as “Omo-Onile” should stop further encroachment on government lands, urging unsuspecting buyers to beware of such land offers.

MEANWHILE, the ministry has stated that it will henceforth make available records of permits issued for public viewing through its mobile app (MPP&UD App).

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Abiola Kosegbe, said through the measure, all stakeholders, including property owners and developers, could view planning permits issued on a monthly basis, which will include the type of use and number of floors, among others.

She further said stakeholders would also be able to monitor for compliance, particularly with respect to type of use and number of units.

The permanent secretary, therefore, urged them to notify authorities of any construction that deviates from approval.

Kosegbe said that in the case of provisional permits, which were issued temporarily while the applicant’s land title was still under processing in the Lands Bureau, stakeholders should note that they were only valid for just nine months.

According to her, the list of distressed and abandoned buildings would also be uploaded on the app.