Uzodinma to demolish houses illegally sited on govt lands
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, says his administration will soon commence the demolition of properties illegally sited on government lands in the state.
The State commissioner for land, survey and physical planning, Eyinnaya Onuegbu said this on Monday while briefing newsmen in Owerri.
He said there would be no sacred cows, insisting that federal parastatals and establishments which built on such lands will not be spared.
Itemizing the achievements of his ministry since the inception of governor Uzodinma, the commissioner added that the government would no longer tolerate indiscriminate allocation of land without following due processes.
Mr Onuegbu noted that it was the practice of the previous governments in the state, saying that he will no longer allow that to continue as that may disrupt the master plan of the State.
The commissioner, however, warned those occupying such lands to relocate or have themselves to blame, warning that the State government will commence demolition in three months time after going through all the processes.
“We are going to come down heavily on these people occupying government land and properties, nobody would be spared, their activities would be looked into if they are obstructing the Master plan of the State.
“Some of them who built residential houses where there is supposed to be market and closely watching those who are trespassing on the land meant for railway line, they are to seize in their own interest.” Onuegbu warned.
He also said that the present administration has checked the illegal issuance of Certificate of Occupancy , explaining that the practice which existed in the previous governments led to the State government having over 1,400 pending land cases in court.
“In the past government documents is duplicated into three titles over one land, this happens because certificate of occupancy was in various hands, it was being issued in the ministry, lands and land, bureau of lands even from government house.
“When they create land they give C of O , you find out that out of that three, four people would own allocation over one plot, that led to the ministry exposed to having over 1,400 pending land cases before I resumed office.” Onuegbu said.
