Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom advocates for state policing and land reform to tackle insecurity and housing deficit

Oba Akintoye Adeoye, the Oluoke of Okeigbo Kingdom, Ondo State, and President of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, emphasized the urgent need for state policing to combat insecurity at the grassroots. He argued that local officers, familiar with the terrain and dialect, would be more effective than those deployed from distant regions. Oba Adeoye also highlighted the necessity of reforming the Land Use Act of 1978, which he believes is outdated and contributes to numerous land disputes. He suggested digitizing land records to establish clear ownership and reduce contention. Regarding governance, he noted the current government's efforts to integrate traditional institutions, advocating for greater transparency in local government fund allocation to foster accountability. For youth empowerment, Oba Adeoye stressed the importance of skills acquisition over dependency, particularly with technological advancements. To address the housing deficit, he proposed government subsidies for land acquisition, titling, and mortgage systems to achieve single-digit interest rates, along with bulk purchasing of building materials. He concluded by stating that Nigeria's challenge lies not in a lack of policies, but in weak institutions, and that his role as a traditional ruler involves leading the Okeigbo Kingdom in development and serving as a bridge to government.