The managing director of Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO)-Ease of Doing Business Secretariat, Kelvin Uwaibi, has said the war against land-grabbing in Edo State will boost investor confidence in the state.
Uwaibi disclosed this to journalists in his office in Benin City, the state capital while responding to questions on the place of the Edo State Private Property Protection Law of 2021 as it relates to the war against land-grabbing and investors’ confidence in Edo State.
According to him, the essence of the law is to basically cater for the issues surrounding landed properties in the state, adding that the Private Properties Protection Committee is doing a great job as part of the grievance mechanism process which has been put in place by the state government for applicability of the law to truly protect private properties belonging to individuals or businesses.
“When investors know that there are grievance mechanisms in place to cater for any unforeseen conflict that could arise as it relates to transactions or doing business in a place, it also helps to boost their confidence in a way. The fact remains, no society is free from crimes, the business society inclusive” Uwaibi said.
Recounting the progress made so far as it concerns land grabbing in the state, the Secretary to the Edo State Ease of Doing Business Council noted that the 1,229 hectares of land that was repossessed by the state government along Irhirhi in Benin City from land-grabbers towards the end of 2022 is an indication that the Private Property Protection Law 2021 will take its course whenever such cases arise. He added that this will further boost investors’ confidence in Edo.
According to him, “over 499 persons were enumerated to have acquired lands in the Irhirhi area where the state government repossessed government lands last year. Some persons who have land issues have also started getting their issues settled through the activities of the Private Properties Protection Committee. What that means is that people now know there is a way they can go about it. This will obviously boost investor confidence in our state”
“I’m aware that the committee hears over 21 cases in a sitting. Sometimes, it goes beyond that. Reports we are getting show that by the middle of January 2023, the committee has heard about 67 land cases in three days. This is an indication that as a government, we are committed to ridding the state of land grabbing.
“I urge investors to feel safe to invest in Edo State. We are truly different. We are determined to make Edo State the investment haven in Nigeria. His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki has repeatedly expressed that his administration is committed to creating an environment where there is law and order, to make Edo the pride of the country to encourage investors to invest in the state.’”
