Delta State Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr Chika Ossai, has sacked touts parading themselves as staff and deceiving people on land acquisition.

Ossai, formerly Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, told journalists in Asaba, the state capital, that before he was transferred to the Ministry of Lands and Survey, the place was always over-crowded with fake staff and all kinds of land speculators sniffing around.

Speaking on the present situation, Ossai said: “I can assure you that even from the entrance you can find out that the premises are calm and look like a government environment where legitimate business is carried out and no more double-dealing like double land allocation.”

The Commissioner disclosed that the land in dispute in Issele-Asagba that covers 276 hectares has been allocated to the State Government. “The land has been in dispute before the government stepped in; the communities involved agreed that government should take the land to avoid further conflict,” he said, adding: “His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has promised to allocate the land to developers and attract investors to the community.”

Ossai also clarified that any land that is not properly allotted or without the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) would be revoked.

Speaking on Airport lands, he noted that those lands have been properly allocated to people but since the government needed it for developing the international airport, the land owners had to let go.

“We know how it pains but they have to bear with the state government and the state government will also make compensation to them. Anyone hoping that ministry of lands and survey will allocate lands to them within Asaba capital city will not find it so easy because there are no available lands in Asaba capital territory,” Ossai said.