Ease of Doing Business in Edo Receives Boost As Arase-led Taskforce Reports Downward Land Grab Trend


…resolves 194 cases, takes 13 to court

…obaseki lauds operations

The Edo State Private Property Protection Taskforce headed by former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, on Wednesday, presented a positive outlook for economic and social activities in Edo State in its committee’s first year report.

Presenting the Report at the weekly Executive Council meeting, headed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr. Arase, said a total 1970 cases were reported to the Private Property Protection Taskforce, that was inaugurated on May 30, 2017.

“Out of the 1970 cases, the committee has successfully resolved 194 of them using the Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism,” Arase said.

He added that the taskforce “is investigating 497 of the 1970 cases and set to take 13 of the cases to court.”

The former police boss who put the number of pending cases at 393, gave insight into the operations of the taskforce, which he said is gaining popularity across the country.

The operations of the taskforce have sacked illegal youth groups that used to harass land owners and property developers across the state.

The near elimination of their criminal activities has made land acquisition and administration easy, especially in Benin City, the state capital and other urban areas of the state.

In his response, Governor Obaseki saluted the effort of the taskforce and assured of more support for its operations to eliminate all impediments to land ownership and administration.

The taskforce according to the governor, was his administration’s response to the activities of the abolished Community Development Associations (CDAs) whose activities were retarding economic development in the state.