The Niger State Government has raised concerns over the unauthorised subdivision and sale of lands allocated to Federal Government agencies and institutions within the state.
Dr. Abdul Husseini, Permanent Secretary of the Niger Ministry of Lands and Survey, made the disclosure during a press conference on Friday in Minna, the state capital. He stated that lands officially allocated for public and government use were being “disposed of to private individuals without notifying the state government or obtaining statutory approval from the governor.”
Husseini described the practice as a “flagrant breach” of the conditions attached to the original grants, noting that it undermined the constitutional authority of the governor under the Land Use Act, Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He explained that no subdivision, reallocation, or disposal of lands allocated to federal agencies is permitted without the governor’s written approval. Any zoning or change-of-use request must be formally submitted through the appropriate channels for consideration. Lands allocated for public purposes but no longer in use are required to revert to the state in accordance with good land governance and public accountability, he added.
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The Permanent Secretary directed that all unauthorised transactions must stop immediately. He advised those involved in such practices to regularise their actions by applying to the governor for proper approval and submitting written notifications for any proposed change of land use, supported by justification from their supervising federal ministry or agency.
Husseini warned that failure to comply would constitute a violation of the grant conditions. The state government would “not hesitate to recommend the revocation of titles and initiate administrative and legal processes to repossess affected lands in the overriding public interest,” he said.
He stressed that the directive aligns with the state’s efforts to ensure orderly land administration, optimise the Niger Geographic Information System (NIGIS), and enhance intergovernmental cooperation.