By ABDWAHAB ABDULAH

LAGOS — Lagos State Government, yesterday, said it would commence full implementation of the new Land Use Law in the state from July 31, 2013.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who spoke on behalf of the government  advised property owners to validate their title documents before the date.

Ipaye at a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Land Use Act (Title Documentation) Regulations 2012 in Lagos, noted that at the end of the extension, the new Land Use Act  would make it a criminal offence for anybody to file false documents for the purpose of obtaining Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Government Consent on land purchased after the Land Use Act, 1978.

According to him, the extension by the governor was to allow those who bought land after the Land Use Act 1978 to perfect their documents, saying, “forged documents is punishable under section 363 of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

“Supply of false information to public officials with intent to deceive is punishable under section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.”

…to confiscate 407 abandoned, uncompleted buildings

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

LAGOS — Lagos State Government, yesterday, said no fewer than 407 identified uncompleted buildings abandoned by owners across the state would be confiscated, saying it would begin monitoring of structures under construction to ensure standard.

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, at a  briefing on the activities of his ministry in the last one year as well as commemoration of six years in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, explained that the moves were parts of  government’s measures to forestal incidences of building collapse.

Ayinde said: “We have identified at least 407 abandoned building projects scattered around the state. Though, some of the owners have recommenced work on their abandoned buildings such as those located in Oniru Estate on the Island.

“We are applying appropriate sanctions to those abandoned and we are going to take the buildings over.” These abandoned structures are threat to security. Hoodlums do take advantage by using them as hideouts”

On monitoring, according to him, all hands must be on deck to tackle recurrent cases of building collapses, saying, “More worrisome is the fact that some unscrupulous developers and builders have decided to embark construction at weekends, public holidays and even at night.”