The term Omonile, derived from Yoruba, translates to ‘children of the land’. It refers to descendants of original landowners or traditional families who assert ownership over parcels of land. 

While land inheritance is a legitimate concept, the Omonile system exploits it, turning land development into a series of unauthorized financial burdens. Beyond unauthorized taxation, it has now fetched a modern meaning for itself associated with ‘illegal touting’, ‘land grabbing’, and extortion exerted on land buyers or developers in the name of development levy by unemployed groups in certain communities.

Nowadays, ‘Omonile’ is a term widely used to refer to land grabbers or groups who seek to disturb the peace of landowners, buyers, or developers in certain communities across Nigeria. Real estate as a thriving sector faces stunted growth due to troubles associated with groups who carry on illegal touting in the name of supposed communal benefit.

Land development in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and some other states like Imo, often resembles navigating a treacherous maze. At the heart of this chaos lies the Omonile system—a notorious practice by individuals claiming ancestral land ownership. As Chuka Uroko and Joshua Bassey put it in their article ‘Omonile: Caging the Monster in Lagos Land Use System’, ‘The native land owner popularly called ‘Omonile’ is a ubiquitous and possessive god that must be appeased at every stage of development’. 

A system like that of the Omonile, where youths or certain groups (mostly unemployed) hide under the guise of a community to perpetrate their acts, turns what should be a straightforward process of acquiring and developing property into a complex battle of extortion, unauthorized taxation, and harassment. Masked as “development levies,” these demands are predatory. These individuals impose levies at every stage of construction, including clearing land, laying foundations, roofing, and fencing.

The Omonile practice extends beyond Lagos in the southwest, with states like Imo in the southeast also grappling with similar systems under different guises. 

Landowners or developers who have suffered this system of extortion and unauthorized taxation tend to have the same experience, although the term ‘Omonile’ originates from the western part of Nigeria.

Individuals or groups claiming ancestral or community rights approach land developers and demand exorbitant sums under the pretense of community development. The methods or weapons employed include the use of force, deception, and intimidation to gain access to and control over a person’s property. Those who refuse to pay or negotiate the stipulated sums often face harassment, delays, or outright violence.

Violence also extends to individuals who facilitate deals as agents without due consideration for those supposedly collecting 'development levies'. Beyond land grabbing, the 'Omonile Syndrome' extends to purported agency without proper recourse to how the real estate market or industry should work. Reports exist about sinister and nefarious activities such as kidnapping and the demise of individuals thereby making unemployed youths risk themselves in the process of illegal touting. 

Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial center, seems to be the epicenter of the Omonile problem, where nearly every land transaction is vulnerable to these practices. Ogun, Oyo, Enugu, and Imo States are emerging hotspots where the issue is gradually taking root. 

For instance, similar tactics as the Omonile use are employed in Imo State, albeit under different local terms, with landowners reporting levies disguised as support for the community's growth and development. Land grabbers often demand what they call ‘development levies’. These levies, presented as fees to support the local community’s infrastructure and well-being, usually lack transparency or accountability. Instead, they are mechanisms for extortion, with no guarantee that the funds will be used for development. 

How the Omonile/Land Grabbing System Disrupts Land Development

Landowners and developers face outright extortion and constant demands for payments, ranging from ‘foundation fees’ to ‘roofing fees’. Each stage of construction invites new levies, increasing project costs significantly. Extortions of this kind hamper the interest of potential real investors or property owners who intend to do business in Imo State. 

The Omonile system functions as a parallel tax system with no legal basis. It encourages unauthorized taxation and undermines government authority and legitimate taxation frameworks. Refusal to comply with the demands of the groups perpetrating these acts often results in construction site invasions, vandalism, or violent confrontations. 

One cannot also escape land grabbing in its actual form through the multiple claims of ownership that are likely to stem from mischief makers, thereby leading to prolonged legal battles and stalled projects.

The unpredictability of these practices deters investors, undermining real estate development and economic growth in affected regions.  

The Lagos State Government enacted the Lagos State Property Protection Law on August 15, 2016, as a proactive approach to dealing with the illegal touting and unauthorized activities by Omonile-related gangs. The law prohibits forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed property, including any violent and fraudulent conduct concerning landed properties in the state. The law also prescribes severe penalties with various prison terms for different offenses. 

A Special Task Force Unit was created on June 26, 2016, to facilitate the implementation of the law in Lagos. Known as the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers, its mandate includes curbing the activities of land grabbers, coordinating the efforts of various government agencies charged with enforcing the property protection law, and cooperating with security agencies in enforcing the law.

In August 2024, the government of Imo State approved a ban on illegal touting and unauthorized collection of levies by unlicensed persons or groups in the state, especially in Owerri and other towns in the state. It can also be associated with the receipt of the so-called ‘development levies’ on properties. However, more can be done. Similar legislative measures as seen in Lagos should be adopted in other states like Imo to address the menace comprehensively. 

2. A Proposed Commission to Handle Illegal Touting
A viable option to explore will be the creation of a dedicated commission or body that could serve as an arm of government to tackle the Omonile problem by addressing unauthorized taxation, illegal land claims, and extortion practices. 

The commission could introduce policies to streamline land taxation and regulate development levies. This would involve registering all levies, ensuring they are lawful, and requiring accountability for funds collected for community development. A key focus would also be enforcing punitive measures against individuals or groups engaging in fraudulent practices in collaboration with law enforcement. 

By creating a transparent, accountable, and legally enforceable framework for land transactions, the commission would restore investor confidence, reduce disputes, and foster sustainable development across affected states.

3. Other Solutions
Certain solutions that can be explored as well include mass sensitization by educating landowners on their rights and the proper channels for land acquisition that can empower them to resist exploitation. Land buyers must consider due diligence to verify ownership through official records. Engaging lawyers and surveyors can help identify and avoid fraudulent claims. Community leadership should be strengthened so that traditional rulers and local authorities can play a vital role in mediating disputes and ensuring that development levies, if necessary, are used transparently for genuine community benefits; And, there should be proper collaboration with security agencies in communities such that partnerships with law enforcement respond swiftly to harassment or site invasions to deter violent disruptions.

The Omonile system represents a significant barrier to land development and economic progress in Nigeria, especially for developing states like Lagos and Imo. Illegal touting, unauthorized taxation, and extortion perpetuated by certain individuals or groups undermine property rights, deter investors, and stifle growth. A concerted effort by governments, communities, and individuals is necessary to dismantle this unauthorized taxation system and create a more transparent, lawful environment for land development.

The question remains: Will government efforts and collective resolve be strong enough to break the cycle, or will the Omonile system continue to thrive, impeding Nigeria’s progress?