The Benue State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals has suspended all consultants and contractors involved in land planning and survey activities across the state over alleged widespread illegal practices.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Rev. Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, announced the decision during a meeting with leaders of the Ugondo Community at the residence of the District Head, Tyoor Terseer Ihwakar, in Makurdi Local Government Area.
According to Dr. Ikyaan, the action followed a comprehensive review of complaints and ongoing court cases linking several consultants and contractors to forged signatures on land allocation papers, illegal placement of beacons, inflated settlement fees, unauthorized land reviews, and deliberate obstruction of rightful landowners from accessing government-allocated plots.
“These illegal activities will no longer be tolerated. The ministry is committed to sanitizing the land administration system in Benue State,” he said.
The Commissioner urged members of the public to verify all land allocation documents with the ministry before making any purchases, warning that many documents currently in circulation are fraudulent.
As part of the engagement, the ministry reached an agreement with the Ugondo Community to harmonize settlement fees, ensuring uniform charges across all local communities to curb exploitation and disputes.
Community leaders, including Zaki Joseph Akaana and District Head Zaki Terseer Ihwakar, commended the ministry for its intervention and expressed confidence that the reforms would restore credibility and order to land administration in the state.
Dr. Ikyaan was accompanied by senior ministry officials, including the Surveyor General, Surv. Emmanuel Nôngo; Directors of Administration, Lands and Town Planning; Deeds Registrar, Terfa Yainjô; Assistant Surveyor General, Surv. Joshua Ashir; Principal Administrative Officer, Miss Mwuese Akange; and Information Officer, Mrs. Nguungwan Leke.
