FG Urged to Review Land Use Act of 1978

Ugo Aliogo

The Group Managing Director, Lashone Group, Dr. Lanre Shonekan, has urged the federal government to review the Land Use Act of 1978, stating that in as much as government continues to be the custodian of the land and the law stands, it would hamper effective use and development of land in Nigeria.

He also stated that government needs to make a lot of changes, starting from the land accusation, because that is where the problem always starts from.

Shonekan, who stated this yesterday in Lagos, during the 13^th annual stakeholders’ meeting, commended a lot of State governments such as Lagos, Ogun and others for their efforts to fastrack the process of land documentations, adding that in Lagos, the Omonile syndrome where you have multiple sales of lands and then inconsistency acquisition of land has been well taken care of.

He expressed displeasure over the human capacity deficit facing the sector, noting that there are engineers, who don’t have the required competence meant for delivering effective housing plan, as a result they just look for where they can get money, and many of them are not properly grinded on the field.

He charged engineers and builders to stop cutting corners, stating that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) gives specification for the building materials to be used such as specifications for metals and irons to be used, cement ratio mixture, with sands and granite and others. 

According to him, “In housing, apart from architectural drawing, you have the structural drawing, which is calculated to points, a little defect in terms of the ratio in a colon can bring collapse. They there is so many things that are not right. Sometimes inferior and substandard materials are used materials are used in building projects because people are trying to cut corners.”