Stakeholders have called on the Delta State Government to urgently address the growing crisis of unregulated land acquisition, warning that fraudulent practices and unchecked transactions are displacing families, eroding cultural heritage, and fueling communal unrest.
The appeal was made on Thursday during the 12th-anniversary celebration of Ndokwa Reporters in Asaba, which also featured the unveiling of its flagship policy platform, the BEL Dialogue. The inaugural edition of the dialogue was themed: “Development or Displacement: Understanding the Cost of Unregulated Land Acquisition in Our Communities – The Role of Government and Traditional Institutions in Safeguarding Community Lands.”
Participants at the event expressed concern over the rising trend of illegal land sales and encroachments, calling for a comprehensive review of the 1978 Land Use Act, which they described as “riddled with loopholes and prone to abuse.”
According to them, without urgent reforms, communities will remain vulnerable to exploitation by powerful interests, private developers, and criminal elements.
Former Lawmaker Raises Alarm
Chairman of the dialogue and former member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, Ph.D., underscored the urgency of addressing the issue.
Citing the recent protest by Umuseti Community in Utagba Uno, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, over unauthorized land sales, Ossai described the problem as a major threat to social stability.
“The theme of this dialogue is not only timely but urgent,” Ossai said. “While development brings opportunities, reckless land acquisitions displace families, erode cultural heritage, and destabilize communities.
This dialogue is a call to explore sustainable processes for land acquisition, identify best practices, and strengthen collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions, civil society, and community members.”
Ossai also emphasized that the Land Use Act of 1978, which vests all land in a state in the governor as trustee for the people, requires transparency and accountability in the issuance of Statutory Rights of Occupancy (urban areas) and Customary Rights of Occupancy (rural areas). He stressed that all valid land transactions must obtain the governor’s consent.
The forum brought together a diverse mix of policymakers, civil society leaders, property developers, and communication professionals. Among the key discussants were Godfrey Chukwudifu Osakwe, FNIPR, a communications strategist and environmental advocate; Barr. Thomas Otunuya Anigara, lawyer and journalist; Chief Monday Ogheneruona Itoghor, environmentalist and GIS expert; Tpl. Oguafor Innocent Ifeanyi, chartered town planner; Odih Christian Udoka, aide to the traditional ruler of Okpanam Community; Esv. Mike Mbagwu, FNIVS, estate surveyor; and Prince Michael O. Orji, Esq.
The experts unanimously called for decisive action to restore order in land administration across Delta State, urging government to implement policies that protect communities from exploitation while promoting sustainable development.
In his keynote address, Mr. Emmanuel O. Enebeli, President and CEO of BEL Media Consult Limited, publishers of Ndokwa Reporters, described the event as “historic”. He highlighted the platform’s mission of promoting accountability and amplifying grassroots voices in governance.
“Our stories must be told by us, not for us,” Enebeli said. “If we fail to support our own storytellers, we risk having our realities erased or misrepresented. Development thrives when stories of progress, struggles, and resilience are told by those who live them.”
Enebeli announced that the BEL Dialogue will now hold annually every May as a policy and development platform for fostering collaboration between communities, government, and civil society.
The session featured robust panel discussions and audience engagement and is expected to produce a communiqué outlining practical strategies for transparent and sustainable land management in Delta State.
Notable attendees included Delta State Government officials such as Mr. Olisa Ifejika (Public Enlightenment on Projects and Policies), Mr. Felix Ofou (New Media), and Mr. Norbert Chiazor (Media), representatives of Barr. Bridget Anyafulu (Oshimili South Constituency), Mr. Edward Ogude, a retired Deputy Manager of Delta Broadcasting Service, as well as media practitioners, women’s groups, and youth leaders.
