Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has warned those who encroach on government lands and properties in the state to desist from the practice as anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.
Dickson gave the warning while receiving the report of the State Special Task Force on Identification and Recovery of Government Lands, headed by Chief Ige Iboro Edaba in Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor particularly called on those, whose compensation have been paid and are still re-entering into lands acquired by the government to steer clear from such lands and advised that, if there were issues to be resolved, they should approach the Ministry of Lands and Survey to address them.
“I want to call on land owners to desist from re-entering lands in respect of which, compensation has been paid. If compensation has not been fully paid and the government has already started developing the land, then respect the rights of the government, because that is the property of everybody, including you.
“You can approach the Ministry of Lands and Survey and then discuss with them, as to how they can complete the acquisition. But, the solution is not to collect compensation money from government and then go back and sell government lands. We will treat those people as pure criminals that they are and we will begin the process of recovering all such lands,” he said.
Dickson promised to study the report and directed the Ministries of Justice and Lands and Survey to take measures in recovering all affected government lands.
He assured the people of the state that, his administration remains focused on delivering the dividends of democracy, but, however, called on them to shun all antics of opposition politicians, who are bent on destabilizing the state for their selfish ends.
Chairman of the taskforce , Chief Ige Iboro Edaba while presenting the report decried the level of encroachment on government lands, stressing that, some land owners, who received compensation have re-entered and in most cases re-sold such lands.
Edaba cited some of the affected areas in the Yenagoa metropolis to include, BYCAS at Elebele, Central Business District and Opolo Housing Estate, where government had acquired 200 hectares of land for which 70% had been re-sold.
He emphasized the need for all ministries, departments and agencies to acquire land, through the Ministry of Lands and Survey in order to promote a centralized land acquisition system and expedite action on recovery of encroached lands.
