By Princely Onyenwe, Abuja
Federal Government or any other Federal Agency cannot and will not allocate lands in the State- Uzodinma
His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma at a Sunday Service at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, addressed the issue of illegal land grabbing in the State as he called for the use of Due Process in acquiring lands and properties.
Governor Uzodinma made it clear that the “Federal Government or any other Federal Agency cannot and will not allocate lands in the State.” He further stated that since his emergence as the Governor, he has not allocated any land to anyone including himself, warned against illegal acquisition of lands without clearing with the Ministry of Lands in the State.
The Governor further disclosed that even the communities have no power to allocate lands and properties to anyone especially those who claim to have MoU with the Communities.
Governor Uzodimma enjoined Imolites to follow due process in acquiring landed properties as Government will come calling for all State owned properties.
Recall that, there was a public announcement by the MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Imo state instructiing land owners of Nekede Owerri West to donate their lands to Government.
Land Donating Communities Sign MoU With Ministry Of Housing & Urban Development For Mass Housing Schemes.
His Royal Highness, Eze Ugorji led Umuguma Community and His Royal Highness Eze Morrison Eke led Umuoma Nekede Community.
Sources revealed that more communities were at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development at the State Secretariat to sign MOUs and pledge their cooperation with the State government’s mass housing schemes targeted at land donating communities.
Many of these visiting communities are delighted with the mini housing estates initiative of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing, Lady Dr Love Ineh and her team at the Ministry and are trooping into the Ministry to be part of the programme.
On Thursday, the Umuoma Community, Nekede, Owerri West were led by their paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Eze Morrison Eke to sign a joint Development plan with the Ministry of Housing to end about 2yrs of negotiations with the Ministry over parcels of farmlands belonging to the Umuoma community.
The signing of the MOU with the Ministry of Housing at last is expected to key the community into the mass housing projects that already has over 20 communities captured by the Ministry in a statewide exercise.
On Friday the 1st of April, it was the turn of the Umuguma community to be hosted at the Office of the Honourable Commissioner to conclude discussions on the Habitat Estate projects captured under the mass housing initiative. Again His Royal Highness, Eze Ugorji was on hand to lead the discussion on behalf of his community where they agreed to append their signatures on an MOU with the Ministry to kick-start development plans of the government on the HABITAT ESTATE.
The Honourable Commissioner, Lady Dr Love Ineh and the Permsec of the Ministry, Lady Hope Anyiam, while thanking the visiting delegation, assured them of His Excellency’s directive THAT WORK SHOULD COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY at the HABITAT ESTATE without further delay.
The people are complaining of this latest Development and request the Government to communicate respective land owners directly to discuss business with them and to define the actual percentage to be given than the pattern already adopted keeping many family land owners in the dark.
Governor Uzodinma therefore has warned against such ill deals and request land grabbers to go through the right process of Acquisition to settle the owners.
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