Reps committee warns states against encroachment on FG lands

STATES, local governments and various individuals have been warned against encroachment of lands belonging to all Federal Government institutes all over Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Chairman, House Representatives Committee on Environment, Honourable Obinna Chiduka, during an inspection of facilities at the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, recently, Ibadan.

Honourable Chiduka who led other members of the committee in the oversight function of the institute said the committee decided to visit the institution to ensure checks and balance is in place and to ascertain judicious use of the fund given to it by government.

Other members of the Committee are Honourables Ayuba Bello, Tajudeen Obasa, Henry Nwabuwa and Dokun Odebunmi.

He said “the issue of encroachment can be sorted out if not by negotiation or by legal means. On our part as legislators, we will make laws. You cannot take any part of Federal Government land, section 4, sub section one of 1999 constitution allows us to make law in the peace code order of the federation and any part thereof. So, if a particular piece of land belongs to the Federal government, it will be untoward for any state, local government, any individual or persons to take a portion of land that does not belong to them.

“So, we support them if they need to go to court, so be it. But we are advocating that the land arounds they should be taken over and conserve more to prolong our lives and make us live longer.”

On increasing the output of the institute, the Chairman House Committee on Environment disclosed that it was equally vital for the committee to know the challenges being faced by the institution with the view to increasing its contribution to national development.

“We want to ensure that the nation gets value for its financial commitments to the institution and to make sure that there are no ghost workers here. It is also important to be certain of the productive ability of the workers of the institute and that they earn their salaries as at when due.

“What we see here is a very impressive research institute with a very huge potentials and that requires government and legislative support, in terms of strengthening their laws, improving their operation. Now, you see an institute that has a very huge potential to do a lot more.

“Here they have a very rare species of herbs preserved. I learnt they are going about to digitalise the archives of data they’ve collected. All around we see different departments which are not only conserving the flora or the fauna or involving in one research study or the other, is possibly not seeing anywhere in Nigeria, west Nigeria, and in some instances, all over other parts of Africa.

“We are looking at an institute that is well run because part of the equipment were fitted in the system probably in the 1950s or 1960s.The Director-General who is using the little some budgetary allocation to revitalise equipment here, improve on some of them, and put everybody at work by employing the brightest young people around.”

The committee charged the institute on efficiency and productivity, while also expressing its delight on the way the institute is run under its Executive Director, Dr Olusola Adepoju.

Chiduka said the institute’s effort in preserving and resuscitating plants and crops that were going into was commendable, saying such effort had the capacity to add value to life because of the abundant medicinal and commercial advantages of the plants and crops.

“The work going on here is huge just as the FG expects results on its investments. The institute needs government support as well in areas where it is lacking through the Ministry of the Environment. This committee will recommend sending staff of the institute abroad for regular training in order to enhance their productivity and improve on the environment,” added the committee chairman.