The Edo State government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, has successfully recovered lands belonging to 25 public schools that were illegally occupied by land grabbers.
This achievement was announced by the state’s Commissioner for Education, Hon. Paddy Iyamu, during a recent update on educational infrastructure improvements. Key Details from the Announcement
- Recovery Efforts: The 25 school lands were reclaimed as part of a broader initiative to restore government properties, addressing encroachments that had hindered educational access and development.
- Wider Infrastructure Gains: In the same period, over 68 schools across Edo’s three senatorial districts have been rebuilt or renovated, contributing to improved learning environments.
- Teacher Regularization: Approximately 4,000 contract teachers from the previous administration, plus 1,000 community-hired educators, have been granted permanent employment status.
- Student Migration: More than 1,000 students have transferred from private to public schools in the last academic session, attributed to these enhancements.
- Debt Clearance: The administration paid N3 billion toward a N4.6 billion debt owed to workers at the state-owned College of Education, inherited from the prior government.
Commissioner Iyamu emphasised the transparency of these projects, urging skeptics to verify them on-site or via the ministry’s online platforms.
He highlighted the governor’s commitment to a “robust education system” that equips youth with employable skills, noting that all public schools, including technical colleges, are now tuition-free. Context on Land Grabbing in Edo Land grabbing has been a persistent issue in Edo State, often targeting public institutions like schools. Earlier in 2025:
- In May, the state’s Task Force on Protection of Government Property, led by Eugene Okoloise, recovered over 30 school lands and more than 2,000 plots from encroachers, including at Ambrose Alli University. They also sealed a brothel operating within a primary school in Iyoba and addressed forged signatures used by grabbers.
- Over 150,000 buildings in the state are reportedly built on government land, prompting calls for buyers to verify titles through the Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS).
- In March, the task force targeted Uhiele Grammar School in Ekpoma, responding to community petitions about ongoing encroachments.
These recoveries build on anti-land grabbing measures initiated under previous administrations, such as the 2022 special police squad deployed by then-Governor Godwin Obaseki to reclaim encroached lands, including school properties.This progress signals a renewed push for educational equity and property security in Edo State, with the government vowing continued action against illegal occupations.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 