The Oyo State House of Assembly, yesterday, summoned the Surveyor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, following a motion by Akinyele residents alleging that the state government plans to acquire lands and buildings.

The motion, which was raised at the plenary by Taofeek Kehinde, representing Akinyele II State Constituency, said that fear gripped inhabitants of Olosaoko, Alabata, Ajibade, Agbedo and Alase villages when they saw strangers parading themselves as government officials going about with various land measuring instruments in their areas.

He said: “Acquisition or confiscation of property is usually through appropriate processes and procedures as provided by extant laws. Therefore, the government should communicate with the people through the right channels on the proposed mission. It will benefit the people and of course the state.”

In his own reaction, the Majority Leader of the House and lawmaker representing Ogbomoso South, Sanjo Adedoyin, said the intention of the government was to expand the economy by attracting dry port, railway and other major projects to the area.

He insisted that government needed to consult the people and carry them along, saying: “They should inform the people and hold meeting with the community leaders and affected residents.”

The Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, asked the Permanent Secretary of the concerned ministry and surveyor-general to appear before the House to explain the plan of the state government.