Ogun threatens to revoke land allocation in Ibara GRA

The Ogun State Government on Saturday threatened to revoke the land allocation of erring subscribers under its Regeneration Housing Scheme at the Ibara Government Residential Area in Abeokuta, the state capital.

The government noted that it won’t hesitate to sanction any subscriber who violates the rules set out in the subscription and agreement forms completed and signed by them, no matter how highly placed in the society.

The allocation of undeveloped land is part of the process for the ongoing Ogun State GRA’s Regeneration Scheme in various parts of the state.

The Commissioner for Housing, Jamiu Omoniyi, handed down the warning while addressing the 95 subscribers at an event held at the MTR Hall in Ibara GRA on Saturday.

Omoniyi warned that allottees who fail to start developing their lands within 60 days as stipulated in the agreement form, would forfeit the allocation and appropriate rules shall be applied in case of a refund of the deposit.

He said the state government took the position to check land speculators who may buy the land and wait for it to appreciate and resell.

The commissioner also stated that houses that must be built in a particular area must conform with the prototype, particularly the exterior, while he clarified that subscribers can do whatever they want in the interior of the building, but the exterior must be uniform.

Omoniyi said, “Everyone that applied for clusters one and two was considered because we did not sell more than what we have on the ground. Numerically, a total of 95 applicants applied and 100% were successful, and those are the ones we have given it to today.

“The agreement was that you will not buy land for speculative purposes; we will not allow anyone to buy and sell this plot within two years. As a matter of fact, from 60 days from today, you start developing your plot. If you don’t, there is an agreement under oath that everyone has signed, we will revoke those plots no matter how highly placed you are if you deviate from the agreement. We will revoke the land from you and allocate it to another person.

“We have given them 60 days to move to the site and start building and within those 60 days, you must process your building plan approval and do the needful. After 60 days, you are given a maximum of nine months to build your house.”

The commissioner explained that subscribers would also be required to pay Infrastructure Upgrade Charges to take care of some facilities like drainage and culvert, just as the ministry was already discussing with the State Water Corporation so that subscribers would not need to sink boreholes.

Speaking on the security within the GRA, Omoniyi said the matter would be addressed and may involve blocking some access routes.

Omoniyi said an enlarged meeting that would involve those already residing within the GRA would be summoned to fashion new ways of doing things.

Speaking at the event, the Osi of Egbaland, Bode Mustapha,  commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for his bold move to regenerate the GRA.

He said the areas where civil servants quarters were living before the commencement of the regeneration were already an eyesore that did not depict Abeokuta as a state capital.

Some subscribers who spoke at the event, lauded the state government decision, noting that the established policies would ensure a quick development of the area.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Real Estate Development Association of Nigeria, Ogun State branch, Dr. Adeniyi Adeyemi, commended the efforts of the government for the move.

Our correspondent gathered that after the meeting, allottees were taken to the site where plots were shown to each subscriber.