Bayelsa revokes land rights for power expansion

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has revoked the Certificates of Occupancy and rights of occupancy over three parcels of land in Yenagoa and Ogbia Local Government Areas as part of its ongoing infrastructure development plans.

The revocation was announced in a public notice issued under Section 28(5) of the Land Use Act, 1978, and signed on the authority of Governor Douye Diri.

According to the notice, one of the affected parcels was previously allocated to Chief Gibson Peresuo Egberime and registered as Certificate of Occupancy No. 93, Page 93, Volume 17 of the Bayelsa State Lands Registry. The 4,066.34-square-metre property is located at Ovom in Yenagoa Local Government Area.

The government stated that the land has been acquired for public purposes, including projects involving the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Another affected parcel is located at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area, while a third parcel, also previously designated for public purposes, was identified through its survey plans and coordinates.

The notice directed all persons claiming any legal interest in the affected properties to submit their claims, together with supporting documents, to the Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Yenagoa within two weeks of the publication of the notice.

It added that the government is prepared to engage with affected parties over the revocation and assured that compensation would be paid in accordance with Section 29 of the Land Use Act, 1978.

The affected occupants were also directed to vacate the properties within two weeks, warning that anyone who obstructs officials from taking possession of the land may face legal action under the law.

Survey plans of the affected parcels, the notice said, will be available for public inspection during official working hours at the Ministry of Lands and Survey in Yenagoa.

The revocation comes as the Bayelsa State Government intensifies efforts to strengthen electricity infrastructure following the transfer of regulatory oversight of the state’s intrastate electricity market to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The state is also developing a 60-megawatt independent power project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area to improve electricity supply across Bayelsa.