The Oyo State Government, on Wednesday, said it would take over abandoned structures and buildings constituting security threats and serving as hideouts for criminals in the state.
It, therefore, called on owners of such buildings to put them to use or risk the government taking them over.
The state’s Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, William Akin-Funmilayo, gave the warning when he inspected De Castle Inn on Queen Elizabeth II Road, Total Garden-Gate Road in Ibadan, the state capital.
Akin-Funmilayo, who decried the rate at which miscreants and hoodlums had been using abandoned buildings as hideouts, said owners of such buildings who refused to do the needful must be ready to forfeit them to the state.
He said, “I got information from the public and security agencies that this abandoned building constitutes a security threat to this environment and that at night, criminals and hoodlums usually hide there.
They go on the streets to snatch telephones, bags and other valuables from passers-by.
Additionally, it has become a home for illicit drug users whereby they trade in illicit drugs as well as smoke different kinds of things.
“We are here to confirm what we heard, which we have seen and this place has been abandoned for the past 10 to 13 years. We are here to ensure the safety of the people living in this environment.
So, we have seen for ourselves that this is completely an abandoned building.
The government will work within the ambit of the law to take possession of the building to stop what is constituting a threat.
“The ultimatum we issued is immediate.
As I’m talking now, the owner should immediately put the building up for what it is meant for or else he or she will forfeit it.
The state government will take over the building to prevent a threat to the security of lives and property of people living in this vicinity.
“Official correspondence will be sent to the owner of the building. If he refuses, the government will take it over and use it in the best interest of the state people.
“I equally extend this message to other owners of abandoned property in the state. If you have properties that have been abandoned, kindly put them to the primary use they are meant for or else the government will take them over.
We cannot allow buildings not occupied or maintained to be left without government intervention,” he insisted.
