Lands & Claims Officer at Benmaris Limited

Benmaris Limited started as a professional manpower providers, financial consultants and general works contractor in 2007. It is a wholly owned Nigerian Company. Over the years, it has undertaken many challenging projects and accumulated skills, know-how and experiences in Facilities Management, Procurement and Supply Services, Design and Build Solutions, Project Management Services, Building Construction and related engineering works.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Lands & Claims Officer

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Job type: Full-time

About the Role
Service Dimensions:

• Relates with over 500 Families/ and over 50 Communities within and outside our concessions area in regards Land acquisition, Claims investigation/compensation and/or Property matters arising from Host Families/Communities, Land Consultants, external Lawyers, Government Agencies, State & National Assemblies, regulatory bodies (DPR, OPTS, Federal & State Ministries of Environments and other Authorized Bodies.
• Liaise with relevant Departments/Units (Production, Community Relation, Legal, HSE, EC&P, etc) on Land/Claims/ related matters.
• Relate and participate in the settlement/payment of Land Rent to Landlords and statutory tenement Rate to relevant Local Government Councils.
• Respond to summons in court matters arising from Land/Claims issues
• Mediation & conciliation of Land/Claims disputes arising within and among Families Communities.
• Protect and defend Company’ acquired lands from any encumbrances.
• Gather or collate relevant fact on land acquired by the company for its operations.

Activities:

• Participate in land acquisition, claims investigations, homage and compensation payments to Land owners.
• Facilitate in investigation/verification as to ascertain rightful Land owners during acquisition, boundary identification, resurvey exercises and field visits/assessments with Land Consultants of the Company.
• Facilitate process and follow up payment request for approved homage/compensation and statutory taxes (tenement rates/ land rents/etc).
• Participate in mediation/negotiation of compensation settlement to land owners and witness payments made by consultant payments to Land Owners.
• Participate in conflict resolutions within and amongst Families within our concessionary scope, as to forestall operational disruptions.
• Represent and defend the Company in all summons inter alia Families, Communities, State & National Assemblies, Government Agencies and regulatory bodies (Min. of Justice, Min. of Environment, MENR, DPR, Etc), to resolve petitions arising from land acquired/claims.
• Respond to statement of claims in court matters relating to Land acquired/Claims arising from the company’s operations and represent the Company in court where necessary on matters relating or arising from land acquisition.
• Draft legal dossiers- Deed of grants, indemnities, etc.
• Intervene on issues of encumbrances arising from Company’s acquired lands.
• Interface, liaise and synergise with other Divisions/Departments/Units on lands & claims matters.
• Participate in MOUs – sustainable development agreements.
• Performs other assignments delegated by hierarchy.

Context and environment:

• Work and relate with people in an environment that is volatile, frazzle, cantankerous and deprave in nature.
• Somewhat illiterate population that tenaciously believe in deities (juju) and proliferations of shrines to redress matters.
• Land held very sacred and invaluable heritage as the only means for survival.
• Work and interact with other relevant Entities (Divisions, Department and units)- (HSE, EC&P, LEGAL, SECURITY, PRODUCTION, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, etc), to ensure effective teamwork in handling of any matter arising from third party.
• Work and interact with Host Families/Communities for peaceful and harmonious relationships.
• Interact with relevant Government Agencies, Local Government Councils, and other relevant bodies; State and National Assemblies, regulatory bodies, etc, as regards petitions, to enhance peaceful resolution of conflicts for smooth operation in the workplace.

Accountabilities

• Comply with the policies and procedures for Land acquisition and Claims investigations relating to the company for effective and timely deliverables of tasks.
• Ensure the timely process, approval and payment of statutory rents, rates to land-owners, Local Govt Councils and expediously facilitate any demand for Land/Property acquisition as to meet project implementation schedules of the Company and to create a good environment for execution of projects.
• Interact with relevant Entities of the Company for the quick response/intervention of Claims issues arising from the Company’s operation as to maintain and sustain harmonious co-existence.
• Maintain and update acquired land/claims register for effective operations.
• Intervene through conflict resolution within and amongst Families agitations, as to reduce disturbances/blockages, further conflicts and save production/operational cost for the Company.
• Attend HSE meetings and report anomalies.

Requirements

• Minimum of LL. B, BA/BSc degree in Humanities/Social science/Estate Management discipline.
• Good communication ability, computer proficiency with good numerical aptitude, self-driven, result oriented and a team player.
• Ability to work under pressure, well organised, diligent and proactive.
• Skills to work with people at all levels.
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in lands & Claims Management.

Application Closing Date
28th May, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online