The Niger government on Friday raised the alarm over the unauthorised subdivision and sale of lands allocated to federal government agencies and institutions within the state.

The permanent secretary, Niger Ministry of Lands and Survey, Abdul Husseini, made this known during a press conference in Minna.

He said lands officially allocated by the state government for public and official purposes were being disposed of to private individuals without notifying the state government or obtaining the governor’s statutory approval.

Mr Husseini described the practice as a “flagrant breach” of the conditions attached to the original grants.

He added that such actions undermined the constitutional authority of the governor as vested in the Land Use Act, Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

According to him, no subdivision, reallocation, or disposal of lands allocated to federal agencies is permitted without the express written approval of the governor.

He stated that any zoning or change-of-use request must be formally submitted through the appropriate channels for consideration.

“Lands allocated for public purposes but no longer in use are required to revert to the state in line with good land governance and public accountability,” he said.

He therefore directed that all unauthorised transactions involving such lands must stop immediately.

Mr Husseini advised those involved in such malpractice to regularise their actions by applying to the governor for appropriate approval.

He instructed them to submit written notifications for any proposed change of land use, supported by justification from their supervising federal ministry or agency.

Mr Husseini warned that non-compliance would amount to a violation of the grant conditions.

He added that the state would not hesitate to recommend the revocation of titles and initiate administrative and legal processes to repossess affected lands in the overriding public interest.

“This aligns with the state’s efforts toward orderly land administration, optimisation of the Niger Geographic Information System (NIGIS), and improved intergovernmental cooperation,” he said. 

(NAN)