The Lagos State government has set up a 12_member panel to enhance the process of acquiring land from landowning families, communities and villages for overriding public interest.

A statement from the office of the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau Mr. Gbenga Ashafa, noted that the panel, known as Technical Committee on Excision Matters, is empowered to advise Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on any matter concerning the management of lands as well as resettlements of persons during revocation of rights of occupancy on the ground of overriding public interest.

The statement added that Ashafa told the members, while performing the inauguration, to identify towns, villages and settlements within such acquisition areas and to consider the need for excision.

Members of the committee drawn from the relevant ministries and agencies were charged to work harder to impact positively on the people of the state as far as excision matters are concerned.

Ashafa challenged them to proffer effective implementation strategies to the government as well as to recommend approval or rejection of excision application and to ensure the due perfection of the excision process.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on land matters, Mr. Aina Salami, who is the chairman of the Technical Committee, in his response, thanked government for the opportunity given them and promised that members of the committee would put in their best.Other members of the committee include Mrs. Titi Anibaba, Mr. Salami Alokolaro and Mr. Adebayo Saliu.