The Kogi State House of Assembly has stepped up efforts to halt land grabbing and the illegal exploitation of government-owned land across the state.
Chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Hon. Abu Onoruoiza Jibril, disclosed this while speaking with Assembly correspondents shortly after the Kogi State Bureau of Lands defended its 2026 budget proposal in Lokoja.
Hon. Jibril lamented that several government-owned lands, both within and outside the state capital, have been encroached upon by private individuals, stressing that such practices will no longer be tolerated from 2026.
The lawmaker, who represents Ajaokuta State Constituency, expressed serious concern over the level of encroachment on government land around the Mount Patti Tourist Site in Lokoja, describing the situation as disturbing and alarming.
He directed the Director-General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands to urgently investigate the encroachment, prevent further invasion, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
“All government land encroached upon by private individuals must be reclaimed. The era of land grabbing and exploitation is over. Mount Patti is a major tourist site, yet some individuals have encroached on it to erect private buildings. This must stop,” he said.
Hon. Jibril added that the Eighth Assembly would not condone actions capable of denting the image of the state, noting reports of individuals selling the same parcel of land to multiple buyers.
“It has come to our notice that some individuals sell one piece of land to more than ten people. This is a criminal offence and must be condemned in its entirety,” he stated.
The first-time legislator also decried the abandonment of lands across the state, warning that such sites are increasingly becoming hideouts for criminals.
“Any land that is not being developed should be revoked. His Excellency, the Chief Servant of Kogi State, is making concerted efforts to nip insecurity in the bud. Abandoned lands and uncompleted buildings have become breeding grounds for criminal activities. This must be stopped,” he emphasized.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, Mr. Kehinde Otaru, while defending the agency’s 2026 budget, raised concerns over the shortage of Staff and land under the bureau’s control.
He appealed to the House to urgently address the issue, noting that it has persisted for a long time and continues to hamper the effective functioning of the agency.
I formally welcome everyone to today’s Budget Defense session involving institutions under the oversight of the House Committee on Land, Environment, and Ecological Management. This engagement covers, on one axis, the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, led by a Honourable Commissioner and supervising its statutory boards and agencies; and on a separate and distinct axis, the Bureau of Lands, headed by a Director-General and operating independently.
At this point, Mr. Speaker, permit me to place on record, very loudly and clearly, the appreciation of this Committee to His Excellency, Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his uncommon commitment to strengthening these institutions. His vision for land administration, environmental order, ecological balance, and revenue optimization is deliberate, people-centered, and reform-driven. The Governor’s genuine intention to deepen internally generated revenue, perfect institutional systems, and reposition Kogi State to stand competitively with its peers is evident, and this Committee is aligned with that vision.
Before we proceed to hear from the various MDA heads, and before hard questions, it is important to commend performance where it is due.
The Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management has, within the last two months, positioned Kogi State as the second cleanest state, a feat that speaks to renewed coordination, visibility, and operational seriousness.
Similarly, the Bureau of Lands recorded over 80 percent performance in the 2025 fiscal year as at September, reflecting improved efficiency in Land Administration, Documentation, and Compliance Drive.
These achievements are noted, appreciated, and encouraged.
That said, today’s exercise is not ceremonial but a Constitutional requirement. It is a vigorous, comparative, and a technical engagement, focused on reviewing 2025 Budget Performance against the 2026 proposals, identifying gaps, and prescribing surgical solutions. Where Budget lines require upward review, we will recommend it. Where inefficiencies exist, we will not hesitate to demand rationalization or outright removal.
To the Bureau of Lands, let this serve as a firm advisory: the era of land grabbing, speculative land hoarding, and informal claims in Urban, Developing, and fully Developed Areas is over. Any Land without valid documentation does not exist for PERSONAL OWNERSHIP IN LAW. Companies operating outside regulatory compliance or defaulting on statutory obligations risk not only litigation but the full application of state laws, consequences that may ultimately undermine their profit objectives.
To the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, let 2025 mark the absolute end of illegality. Henceforth, no vendor, contractor, or service provider is permitted to function in the name of the Ministry until duly reactivated through a formal letter issued by the Honourable Commissioner and properly approved. In other words, the recent unknown and uninitiated Vendors by the knowledge of the Commissioner stands nullified. Any individual or group that issued pseudo-approvals, impersonated the Ministry or its agency, the Commissioner’s signature or harvested revenues without authorization must be brought to book.
No award, contract, or engagement shall stand without the express approval of the Head of the Ministry and due cognizance of Kogi State Revenue Services involvement. All revenue leakages must be blocked completely and permanently. Where violations persist, this House will not hesitate to activate its quasi-judicial powers, including summons and arrest warrants.
As we look ahead to 2026, I wish both MDAs the very best. Be assured that as long as this Committee exists, no stone will be left unturned. Oversight is not antagonism; it is the compass that keeps institutions on course.
In closing, let me end with a light note: Budget Defense is like environmental sanitation, if everyone does their job properly, nobody will complain. And as our Elders say, “When the House is well arranged, visitors do not ask who owns it.”
I welcome you all and wish us a productive engagement.
Thank you.
HON JIBRIL ONORU-OIZA ABU
Chairman of the House Standing Committee.
