Delta State Government has again emphasized the need for community leaders and other relevant local authorities to ensure that no development fee (Deve fee) is collected at construction sites across the state.
Director General of Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, on Saturday affirmed government commitment to the enforcement of subsisting laws to ensure that illegal collection of development fee or levy does not occur across the 25 local government areas in the state.
He said “deve fee” has been outlawed in the state, stemming from the enactment of the Delta State “Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018,” which expressly prohibited the collection of all forms of levies and fees at construction sites, including the ten percent (10%) from the sale of land often referred to as “deve fee.”
Oghenesivbe who was a guest of Ritz FM Radio Warri Public Affairs talk-show on Saturday, said the state law prescribes severe penalties for violators, including up to two years imprisonment or a fine of one million naira, or both, adding that forceful entry, assault on workers, and trespassing on construction sites are also illegal under the law.
The Bureau Chief explained that the state government goal is to create a secure and investor-friendly environment, as the illegal collections were capable of stifling development and investment in the state, noting that Delta is fast developing under the leadership of governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
He appealed to all victims to report cases of illegal collection to the nearest police station to enable government prosecute violators of the law, to serve as deterrent to others, pointing out that a Court in Osubi recently jailed four people for illegal revenue collection.
And on the issue of President Donald Trump’s branding Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” alleging Christians genocide in Nigeria, Dr Oghenesivbe who is a full Member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over his pragmatic and result oriented leadership and unwavering commitment to end insurgency and acts of terrorism in the country.
He also gave Kudos to the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and law enforcement agencies for their strategic efforts, patriotism and unalloyed commitments to the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity and crime prevention, noting that the Tinubu administration has to a reasonable extent reduced the spate of killings, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the country.
The Bureau of Communications Director General emphasized the need for the federal government to engage in diplomatic talks with the Trump administration to explain the true position of killings in Northern Nigeria, genuine efforts made so far and the results achieved.
Dr Oghenesivbe recommended multifaceted approaches to boarder security and AI powered surveillance, and the upgrading of immigration operational systems to prevent irregular migration, enhance intelligence gathering capabilities through real-time monitoring of land and air entry points, as well as upscaling overall national security to prevent illegal killing of Nigerians, irrespective of religion and ethnic affiliation.
He however noted that the number of Christians killed in Nigeria, as against the total number of Christians killed all over the world as presented by the government of the United States of America, should be of great concern, a development that requires more decisive actions by the federal government.
Dr Oghenesivbe disclosed that the 2025 data from a globally recognized NGO – Open Doors International, in their World Watch List had indicated that of the 4,476 Christians killed globally for faith-related reasons, 3,100 of them (69%) were Christians in Nigeria, which is why something urgent must be done to ensure that Christians and Muslims are not unjustly killed in any part of the country, going forward.
“Collection of development fees (Deve) has been outlawed in Delta State by virtue of the Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018. It is therefore, a criminal offense to forcefully collect any form of development fees in the state.
“No community development union or Committee member is permitted to trespass on any property, especially construction sites. No 10% collection of deve fee in Delta State.
“The law prohibiting deve fee collection is in force to guarantee investor-friendly environmental, while law enforcement agents are to arrest and prosecute offenders, and anybody who violates any section of the Law,” Oghenesivbe said.
