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The Bayelsa State Government has revoked the Certificates of Occupancy and rights of occupancy over three parcels of land as part of its ongoing infrastructure development efforts, including the expansion of electricity projects in the state.
The revocation was announced in a public notice issued under Section 28(5) of the Land Use Decree, 1978, and signed on the authority of Governor Douye Diri.
Among the affected properties are lands previously allocated to private and public entities, including the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
One of the revoked parcels was originally granted to Chief Gibson Peresuo Egberime and registered as Certificate of Occupancy No. 93, Page 93, Volume 17 of the Bayelsa State Lands Registry. The property, measuring about 4,066.34 square metres, is located at Ovom in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
According to the notice, the land has now been designated for use by the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited and the NDLEA.
Another affected property is located at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area, while additional parcels identified through survey plans and official coordinates were also revoked for public purposes.
The government directed all individuals or organisations with interests in the affected lands to submit their claims, supported with relevant evidence, to the Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Yenagoa within two weeks of the notice.
It also stated that Governor Diri was willing to engage with affected persons over the revocation process, adding that compensation would be paid in line with Section 29 of the Land Use Decree, 1978.
The notice further instructed affected occupants to vacate the properties after the expiration of the two-week notice period and warned that anyone obstructing government officials from taking possession of the lands could face legal action.
The Ministry of Lands and Survey said survey plans of the affected parcels would be available for public inspection during official working hours.
The revocation comes as the Bayelsa State Government intensifies efforts to improve electricity supply through its 60-megawatt Independent Power Project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area.
The move also follows the transfer of regulatory oversight of Bayelsa's intrastate electricity market from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency, a development expected to boost the state's power sector reforms.
