By Fadlillah Abdallah
The Sokoto State Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey, and Town Planning, has warned landgrabbers against the sale, construction, or carrying out other activities on sites acquired by the state government for water projects in the Gagi and Tamaje areas of the Sokoto metropolis.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Muktar Dodo Iya further urged the general public to refrain from illegal activities, adding that “tampering with land will no doubt affect the efforts of government in bringing development to the people, particularly the ongoing water projects initiated by the administration.”
The Ministry called on the general public to keep off public land and report any suspicious activities of landgrabbers to the security agencies for prompt action.
The statement also called on the Ministry of Water Resources and other client ministries, whose sites are affected, to secure them in the interest of the general public.
“I wish to call for the public’s cooperation to ensure that all government lands are protected and utilized for their intended purposes,” the statement quoted the Commissioner for the Ministry, Aminu Bala Bodinga as saying.
He emphasized that illegal construction on government lands is a violation of the law and detrimental to the development plans of the state.
Bodinga also warned that any individual or group found guilty of engaging in illegal construction on government lands would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that government lands are properly utilized for the benefit of the state and its citizens.
