Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting In fulfilment of his promise made during his campaign, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo through the Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Hon Yakubu Musa, has ordered the return of 2,950 plots of land to victims of the 2022 demolition exercise at Oke-Oroma Community in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
This exercise has brought relief to about 1,550 affected property owners.
Recall that the immediate past administration in Edo State, on September 21, 2022, demolished about 90 houses in the locality, explaining that the action was taken to reclaim 1,229 hectares of land earmarked for the development of a new town project in Benin.
The then Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare, had at a press conference shortly after the demolition exercise, maintained that the state government acquired the land in 2017 and had, at different times, warned those who encroached on the land to stop development activities.
However, during his electioneering campaign in the area in 2024, Governor Monday Okpebholo promised the victims of the demolition that their land would be returned if elected into office.
In fulfilment of that promise, over a year after his election, the governor, through the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hon Yakubu Musa, at the weekend commenced the issuance of allocation letters to verified beneficiaries.
He said the exercise followed the approval of Governor Monday Okpebholo, who directed the ministry to restore the land to genuine owners after due authentication.According to Musa, a one-week verification process was conducted to confirm rightful ownership before the commencement of the allocation.
He added that surveyors had begun the physical demarcation of the plots, while clearing work was ongoing to ensure speedy handover.
“The governor promised during the campaign to address the Oke-Oroma issue, and that process has now commenced,” he said.
Beneficiaries who spoke with journalists expressed appreciation to the state government, describing the development as a restoration of hope after years of uncertainty.
