The Ekiti State Government has successfully settled a longstanding land dispute between the Ikere community and Hausa traders. The conflict arose from allegations of extensive land encroachments by traders at Shasha market, situated along the Ado-Ikere highway.
The government has assured Hausa traders of their right to operate freely within the market, emphasizing that all market stalls and residential structures must remain within the one-kilometer radius designated by the state government.
Following a petition from the Ikere Community claiming that Hausa traders had exceeded their allocated lands, the state government established a Boundary Technical Committee to investigate the issue. The committee’s findings, presented by the Ekiti State Surveyor General, Adebayo Faleto, confirmed that the structures erected by the Hausa traders were within the originally allocated area.
In a meeting presided over by the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, landowners from Ikere who had not been compensated were advised to formally request land excision from the government, based on expert recommendations.
Deputy Governor Afuye appealed to landowners not to disrupt business activities, emphasizing the need for harmonious coexistence between the community and traders. She encouraged the traders to pay their statutory taxes and rates to Ikere Local Government to boost the council’s internally generated revenue.
“The land you ceded to the government has been gazetted and is now protected by law. If you seek compensation through land excision, you must follow the appropriate processes,” Mrs. Afuye explained. She also underscored the importance of compliance with tax obligations for the development of the area.
Mrs. Afuye emphasized that the Shasha market is beneficial to the Ikere community, adding to its population and voting power. She encouraged the community to allow the traders to operate since they had not exceeded the allocated land.
Echoing the Deputy Governor’s sentiments, the General Manager of the Ekiti State Housing Corporation, Mrs. Ilesanmi Abimbola, clarified that 20 hectares were designated to the agency, with two hectares legally assigned to the Hausa community. She assured that the land allocations followed proper governmental procedures, dismissing claims of encroachment.
The Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, praised the government’s impartiality and thoroughness in resolving the issue. Represented by Chief Clement Alomoge, the monarch assured that steps would be taken to secure land compensation for the Ikere people. He emphasized peaceful coexistence with the traders, noting that their objection was against illegal land acquisitions, not the presence of the Hausa traders.
The monarch also reiterated that the lands given to the Hausa traders were intended for market use only, not residential purposes. He affirmed that the community would follow the government’s advice to request unused lands to be excised and allocated to families still awaiting compensation.
Sources:
https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/13/ekiti-state-govt-mediates-in-ikere-hausa-traders-land-dispute/
