The Delta State Government has declared that the collection of illegal levies, commonly referred to as ‘Deve fee’, from construction workers at building sites is now considered unlawful and punishable by a two-year prison sentence.
According to The PUNCH, this was announced in a statement issued by the Director General of the Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe
The statement, which was made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday, emphasized that “violators of the law risk two years jail term on conviction.”
The government’s position is clear, as the statement warns community leaders and members of community development committees against imposing “development fees” on construction sites.
Oghenesivbe reiterated that “the existing law criminalizing it is still in force,” and any such collection would be met with legal consequences.
He further highlighted the importance of adhering to the “Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018,” warning that those who breach this law face prosecution.
Oghenesivbe pointed out that the Bureau had received numerous complaints regarding the illegal collection of levies, often involving coercion and the use of force. These levies ranged from N200,000 to over N1,000,000, depending on the project’s location and scale.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who previously served as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, oversaw the bill’s passage before it was signed into law in 2018 by the former governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Oghenesivbe reminded the public that anyone found guilty of violating this law could face two to five years imprisonment.
In a 2023 interview with a BBC correspondent, Governor Oborevwori had affirmed that the collection of ‘Deve’ fees had been outlawed in the state.
Oghenesivbe assured the public that the governor remains committed to fostering infrastructure development across the state’s senatorial districts and attracting investors. He urged community leaders to refrain from engaging in illegal transactions that could discourage development efforts.
The “Public and Private Property Protection Law 2018,” particularly Sections 13(1) and (2), provides protection for developers against exploitation, with violators facing two years imprisonment, a N1 million fine, or both. Section 11(1) also prohibits selling the same piece of land to multiple buyers, with violators risking five years in prison upon conviction.
The statement further reinforced that the collection of any levies or fees at construction sites in the state’s 25 local government areas is illegal.
It also warned against acts such as forceful entry, assault on workers, and trespassing on construction sites, stressing that such behavior must stop immediately to avoid clashing with existing state laws.
