Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has assured the people of the state that the Ekiti state property protection (Anti land grabbing, second amendment law, 2024) will end forceful and illegal occupation of landed properties by miscreants called land grabbers.
Oyebanji gave the assurance in Ado- Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state, while signing the anti-land grabbing bill and two others recently passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly into law.
The two other bills the governor assented to were the High Court Law (first amendment, 2014) and Ekiti state legislative House (Powers and Privileges) Law, 2024.
The anti-land grabbing law prohibits forceful entry, illegal occupation of landed properties, fraudulent and violent conducts pertaining to landed properties in the state.
Oyebanji emphasised the need to regulate and sanitise land acquisition processes in the state.
He said: โI am particularly excited about the anti-land grabbing law. This has been an issue in this state. It has taunted growth. It has taunted development.
โBut now that we have a regulatory framework that gives us the legal power, I can assure you that we will implement that law to the letter, no matter who is involved.โ
Governor Oyebanji thanked members of the State House of Assembly for their support, saying their cooperation had led to remarkable and impactful growth in the state.
โWithout your support, there is no way we would have been able to do anything. You provided legal frameworks that enable us to implement most of those decisions that have translated into the outcomes we are all proud of today.
โI am also grateful to you for your understanding in ensuring we put people first by slicing the cake in a way and manner that everybody will have a piece of that cake.
โGoing forward, the next two years are going to be characterised by many achievements that will surpass the first two years as it is said that the reward for hard work is more work.
โWe enjoy the goodwill of our people in Ekiti state. People seem to like what we are doing. But there is a danger in that. We must not rest on our oars because we must avoid a reversal of the gains we have had in the last two years,โ the governor said.