The Kogi State House of Assembly announced on Thursday that it has initiated measures to address ongoing land disputes among communities and curb illegal mining activities throughout the state.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Land, Housing, Environment, and Natural Resources, Abu Onoruoiza Jibril, shared this information in Lokoja after his committee’s inauguration.
Jibril, the current representative of the Ajaokuta State constituency, stressed that the Assembly will no longer tolerate any fraudulent practices related to land, housing, and mining within Kogi State. This development followed the reconstitution of the committee’s members during a plenary sitting on August 37, 2023, as announced by the Speaker of the House.
He emphasized the crucial role of the committee in overseeing land, housing, environment, and natural resources issues within the state, including reviewing, scrutinizing, monitoring, and supervising the programs of the relevant ministry and its agencies.
Jibril highlighted the challenges associated with land disputes, including hoarding and multiple sales of the same piece of land, which have caused issues in the Lokoja metropolis. He stressed that the Assembly, in collaboration with the Executive branch, aims to address these problems effectively.
Regarding natural resources, Jibril expressed the committee’s commitment to protecting the state’s resources from illegal exploitation and ensuring that mining activities adhere to environmental laws. He particularly mentioned issues with mining in his constituency and pledged to address them.
Furthermore, Jibril noted the importance of opening up land for housing projects, especially for civil servants and political officeholders serving the people. He stated that all stakeholders should benefit from these initiatives.
In his address, the Speaker of the House, Aliyu Umar, urged government ministries, parastatals, and agencies to be more proactive in performing their duties.
