Accusations have been made by the Lokoja Development Association (LDA), suggesting the involvement of certain high-ranking government officials in Kogi State in the illicit transaction of land that is the property of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture.
The identified piece of land, situated adjacent to HABSO filling station along Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Road in Lokoja, has prompted the group to seek the attention of Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Concerns have been raised by the group regarding potential unrest in the area if immediate action is not taken to address the situation.
Alhaji Musa Usman, the Chairman of LDA, brought the issue to light during discussions with the media, stating: “We were startled last week to witness individuals purporting to be government representatives surveying and cordoning off this land for fencing purposes.
“Upon inquiry, they informed us that the said land and structure had been sold to a high-ranking government official at the Government House.
“The edifice on this land was initially constructed by the Northern Nigeria Government in the 1960s and served as the Produce Office for Kabba Province. Following the establishment of Kogi State in 1991, it was repurposed as the Tractor Hiring Office by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“This parcel of land remained under the ownership of the Ministry of Agriculture until reports surfaced of unauthorized sales by certain government officials. It is our firm stance that no individual, irrespective of their status, will be permitted to erect any infrastructure on this site. We are committed to safeguarding both government and ancestral lands in Lokoja.
‘The land and its historic structure should serve as a landmark for potential rehabilitation by the state government for tourism-related activities, rather than being handed over to a high-ranking official for personal development using questionable means,” Usman emphasized.
He further added, “We urge the state government to take immediate steps to halt any construction by individuals or groups on this land.
“Should there be no intervention to prevent further development by the land purchaser, we will engage in widespread protests until the land is returned to the state government. We pledge to actively expose the actions of these individuals falsely claiming to be associated with the government.
“The LDA Chairman has, therefore, appealed to the state authorities to establish a task force to conduct investigations across various local government areas and identify and apprehend those involved in the unauthorized sale of government assets.”