Governors make review of Land Use Act necessary
Dr Aliyu Tilde
The conduct of many governors regarding land administration in their states makes it necessary to review the Land Use Act for the first time since it was promulgated in 1978.
Kano is in the eye of the storm now and perhaps the most reckless. However, in the North especially, many military and civilian administrations have devoured public land for selfish purposes. States have allocated kilometers of land to some past heads of states. Many governors have allocated to themselves swathes of land from forests and grazing reserves. High ranking officials at both federal and state levels have grabbed the best agricultural and minerals rich lands, causing deprivations to farmers and herders while these lands remain fallow. Experts say that this was the root cause of the farmer-herder conflict in Zamfara, which has degenerated into banditry and kidnappings.
In the city, all green areas have been converted to “carve outs” for the elites. Public houses in GRAs have been stripped of their greens and circulation spaces. The latest casualties are lands belonging to schools and hospitals where no space for expansion is left. While serving as Commissioner of Education, I could not find any land available to build the additional 16 primary schools in Bauchi metropolis approved by the Governor and intended to reduce classroom congestions of up to 300 pupils/class. After I resigned, the football field of the BSADP Primary School which I established in 2005 was allocated to individuals—a move I stopped with the cooperation of the Governor while I was in office last year. This, after previous governments have allocated to individuals BSADP experimental plots and the spaces between its office buildings. And this, while there are thousands of hectares available for development in the outskirts of the capital.
The National Assembly should come to the rescue of our the Nigerian land. These predators know no bounds. Very soon, after selling every available land, some governors will not hesitate to carve out plots out of their Government Houses. The 45-year old Land Use Act, which was adapted from the land administration law of the defunct northern region by Obasanjo, is crying out for reform. The land too should be rescued from the jaws of its predator custodians. And we the citizens—our children in schools, patients in hospitals, farmers in fields and herders in forests—should be saved future tragedies of grabs and demolitions.
Now.
Dr Aliyu U. Tilde
