A former member of the House of Representatives and former deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Hon. (Comrade) Joseph Iranola Akinlaja has passionately lent his voice in condemning land grabbing, describing it as an illegal acquisition of land through force, intimidation, or manipulation, a heinous crime he noted should be condemned in its entirety.
The foremost labour leader and astute politician who in May 2025 was appointed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as one of the members of Ondo State Task Force on Property Protection and Anti-Land Grabbing commended Ondo State government for taking decisive steps in nipping the menace in the bud no matter whose ox is gored.
Akinlaja while reiterating one of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s position on land grabbing said, “Land is more than just property. It is our heritage, a birthright, and the foundation of community identity. We will not stand by and allow criminal elements rob our people of what rightfully belongs to them.”
Highlighting the grave consequences of land grabbing, including the destruction of property and loss of lives, Akinlaja in chat with some newsmen at his Ondo residence on Monday emphasised the need for a collaborative approach in tackling this issue and further reiterated the commitment of the Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration to eradicating land grabbing scourge and it’s devastating consequences.
According to him, “To effectively tackle the menace of land grabbing, concerted efforts from the government, law enforcement agencies, and the judiciary are required. Stronger institutional reforms, improved land registration systems, public awareness, and stringent enforcement of land ownership laws are essential to safeguarding property rights and promoting economic growth in our country.
“Only through a comprehensive and collaborative approach can the devastating effects of land grabbing be mitigated, restoring peace, stability, and confidence in the land ownership system across board.
Continuing, Akinlaja said, “Land grabbing is driven by rapid urbanisation, increasing land values, and weak enforcement of land ownership laws. This menace has far-reaching social and economic consequences, affecting property development, security, and public confidence in the legal system. Unlike other states the leadership of Ondo State is leaving no stone unturned in stemming the tide and they must be commended for standing firm for justice, decency, peace and decorum.
“From my independent and patriotic research, I have discovered that land grabbing syndicates often involve powerful individuals and gangs known as “Omo Onile,” target legally owned land. These gangs employ tactics of harassment, violent eviction, and even fraudulent land sales to dispossess rightful landowners.
“As we all know that in city centres and other fast-growing communities, the high demand for land has intensified disputes and conflicts, often leading to violent confrontations and displacement of rightful landowners. Similarly, areas that are densely populated and in some instances where there are industrial estates, such juicy areas have become a prime target for these illegal activities. Land grabbers over there take the opportunity and liberty of exploiting legal and administrative loopholes to seize properties, undermining the economic growth of these areas. This is totally unacceptable.
“Recognising the severity of this issue, some states took legislative steps to curb land grabbing and impressively Ondo State is taking a lead in this. States that have taken bold steps by introducing Property Protection Law to criminalise the illegal occupation of land and to protect landowners from forcible eviction deserve to be commended and celebrated.
“It must also go beyond mere legislation, another setback that should be contended headlong is corruption within the system, coupled with the power and influence of land-grabbing cartels, which has somewhat made it difficult to fully enforce the laws. Judicial processes are often slow, and victims are left frustrated as they struggle to reclaim their land. This disappointing and frustrating situation also needs to be obliterated.
“In Ondo State, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo is hands-on and doing brilliantly well. He is consistently blocking every loophole, making it grossly uncomfortable for land grabbers to survive in our state through the legitimate and unbiased use of instruments of the law. In addition, I am confident that the creation of the Task Force will help to resolve numerous disputes, and the scale of the problems would be reduced drastically in Ondo State.”
