…Vows to end building collapse, targets affordable housing
Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, has attributed the significant rise in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the bold reforms and infrastructural drive of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration.
Speaking on Thursday during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing in Ibadan, Akin-Funmilayo said the digitisation of land administration processes, creation of new Government Reservation Areas (GRAs), and other innovative initiatives have positioned the Ministry as one of the top revenue-generating agencies in the state.
According to the Commissioner, about 15 GRAs were initiated through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), while the Ministry launched user-friendly digital services such as electronic allocation letters, online plot selection via www.lands.oyostate.gov.ng, an amnesty programme for building permits, and an online platform for building approvals.
He revealed that these innovations have led to the issuance of 17,046 digital title documents since 2019, with 8,000 of them issued in the last two years alone — including a record 4,570 in 2024 and 1,008 in May 2025. The state also deployed the Oyo State Property Reference System (OYPRS), which allows easier property identification and better land tax compliance.
The revenue generated by the Ministry reflects this transformation:
N4.8 billion in 2023
N6.1 billion in 2024
N3.2 billion generated as of May 15, 2025
“We recorded N2.7 billion from January to May 2024 and N3.2 billion in the same period in 2025 — an increase of N500 million. This result came from strategic self-assessment and corrective measures where needed,” Akin-Funmilayo noted.
On infrastructure, he listed several ongoing GRAs including:
Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja GRA
Senator Abiola Ajimobi GRA
Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala GRA
Chief Lateef Oyelade GRA
Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho GRA
Engr. Lere Adigun GRA (completed)
Others at Akobo, Mokola Hilltop, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Alalubosa (yet to be opened to the market)
He assured that despite high infrastructure costs, Governor Makinde’s administration is committed to developing affordable GRAs for middle- and low-income earners.
The Ministry has also implemented several reforms, including:
Digitisation of property cards and the Deeds Registry
Deployment of Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) surveying tools
New Land Use Charge law
Recruitment of 77 new staff
Payment of N935.8 million in compensation for government-acquired lands across multiple infrastructure projects
Addressing concerns over building collapses, Akin-Funmilayo vowed to strictly enforce compliance with building regulations to protect lives and properties. “We are strengthening our systems to prevent collapses. We urge builders to consult the Ministry for approvals and guidance before construction,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Commissioner said the Ministry’s priorities include launching a state-wide house numbering programme, continuing digital archiving of documents, and granting greater administrative autonomy to the Physical Planning Department.
“We’ve started work to make Physical Planning a standalone division, and we expect major progress before the year ends,” he added.
Akin-Funmilayo was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry during the briefing.
