The Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS) has warned individuals and community leaders against the illegal sale and encroachment on government-owned lands, including school properties and government reserves.
The agency said it would not hesitate to remove illegal structures erected on public land, stressing that government property must be protected from unauthorised occupation and transactions.
Managing Director of EDOGIS, Dr. Innocent Bello, gave the warning during an interactive session with journalists in Benin City.
He, however, said genuine cases could be considered for regularisation where appropriate, but warned that those who build illegally on government land would face the consequences of the law.
The EDOGIS boss also disclosed that the agency had uncovered several irregularities while reviewing more than 3,500 applications for Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) inherited from the previous administration.
According to him, the verification exercise revealed forged documents, fake survey plans, incomplete applications and multiple claims over some parcels of land.
He noted, “more than half of the inherited applications had significant deficiencies and required further scrutiny before they could be approved.”
Bello further explained that over 1,000 applications had so far been processed and forwarded to Governor Monday Okpebholo for approval after undergoing the necessary verification.
He explained that EDOGIS had earlier suspended approvals to enable it restore integrity to the land administration process and ensure that only genuine applicants were issued C-of-O documents.
Bello stated that the agency was deploying digital technology to identify multiple land sales, duplicate registrations, illegal occupation of government property and other forms of land-related fraud.
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