Reps dissatisfied with non-utilization of lands by military
The House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the non-utilization of land acquired by the military in various parts of the country and has charged the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to ensure that all lands acquired by the military authorities are used for the purposes intended.
The House resolution follows the adoption of the motion sponsored by Rep. Are Olowookere complaining that lands acquired by the military for the establishment of barracks in the 36 states since the 1970s have been left untilized.
Rep. Olowookere informed the House that at the time those lands were acquired by the military, the communities affected couldn’t oppose the acquisition in spite of the economic deprivation they suffered as the nation then was under military rule.
“Since the acquisition, none of those lands has been put to maximum use by the military. Rather, more than 80 per cent of the lands have not been occupied.
“Good example is the Owena Army Barracks in Akure, Ondo state; Alamala Army Barracks in Abeokuta, Ogun state; Ojo Military Cantonment in Ibadan, Oyo state and the Abuja acquisition that covers Giri-Zuba- Nnamdi Azikiww International Airport,” he said.
The House member from Ondo state accused commandants of those barracks of turning out to be emergency landlords/landowners using agents and are now giving out the periphery of the lands to people that desire land for economic ventures on an annual rentage, thereby, “raking in for themselves colossal amounts of money, while properties of those tenants are usually destroyed in the event of default in payment of rents.”
However, attempts by the House to ensure the works ministry in collaboration with the ministry of lands in the affected states to work out modalities for the return of the unutilized lands to host communities was shot down by lawmakers.
In its resolution therefore, the House mandated its committees on defense and housing to ensure implementation that all military acquired lands are used for the purpose they were acquired.
