Edo Government Denies Alleged Sale of 14,000 Hectares of Land to 17-Year-Old

The Edo State Government has firmly denied reports circulating online that a 17-year-old boy purchased 14,000 hectares of land in the state, describing the story as false, baseless, and mischievous.

In a statement released on Monday, the Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), through its Director of Press, Tunde Egbiremonlen, said there was no record of such a transaction in its database. He clarified that the claim, which went viral across social media platforms over the weekend, was the work of mischief-makers aiming to discredit the state government’s land administration reforms.

According to Egbiremonlen, the agency’s automated land registration system makes it impossible for a minor to own land in Edo State, as anyone below the legal age of 18 is automatically flagged by the system and rejected from processing property ownership documents.

“The Edo GIS platform will automatically reject any application submitted by a 17-year-old because the law recognizes such a person as a minor,” the statement read. “It is, therefore, impossible for such an individual to buy or register ownership of 14,000 hectares of land in Edo State.”

Egbiremonlen also questioned the credibility of the story’s origin, noting that the promoters failed to specify where the alleged land was located. “Those spreading the falsehood could not even identify which community or local government area the said land supposedly exists. Their intention is purely to mislead the public and undermine the integrity of the government’s ongoing reforms,” he added.

The agency urged members of the public to disregard the viral post, stressing that some individuals have been spending huge amounts of money to circulate fake information for political or personal gain.

This clarification follows viral claims suggesting that Governor Monday Okpebholo had suspended the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) after discovering that a teenager had allegedly acquired thousands of hectares of land. EdoGIS, however, confirmed that the report was completely unfounded.

Governor Okpebholo’s administration has in recent months intensified efforts to reform the state’s land management system. Part of these reforms includes the revocation of a contract with a private firm previously responsible for managing the software used for the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy. The government has also introduced new digital verification processes aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and preventing land fraud.

Egbiremonlen reaffirmed that Edo State remains committed to maintaining the integrity of its land administration system and protecting it from exploitation. He further warned that the government would take legal action against individuals or groups found guilty of spreading false information capable of inciting public distrust.

“The government will continue to promote transparency and modernization in the land sector,” he said. “We urge the public to rely only on verified information from official sources and not be swayed by politically motivated rumors.”

With this clarification, the Edo State Government reiterates its position that no land transaction involving a 17-year-old has ever taken place, and that the alleged sale of 14,000 hectares exists only in the imagination of those behind the misinformation.