…Urges Communities, Property Owners to Sacrifice for Capital City Development
The Abia State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije has embarked on public enlightenment and sensitisation outreach to communities that will be affected in the planned expansion of Mission Hill to Okpara square road (Six lane road) by the Governor Alex Otti’ administration.
Recall that the State Government had recently announced that it would soon embark on the expansion of the dualized Ossah Road Umuahia from the Enugu/Port Harcourt Express Tower Junction to Michael Okpara Square, right inside the Umuahia City.
Speaking during the Public Enlightenment Outreaches at Eziama na Mgbaja; Okpu Isingwu, Uzzi na Akpizu and Isingwu autonomous communities in Umuahia North L.G.A, the Commissioner accompanied by the representative of Attorney General, Barr. Mrs Oge Maduka, Commissioner for Works, represented by Izima Chinomso, Special Adviser on Lands and Housing, ESV Pastor Okorougo Aji, Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security, Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba, a representative of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, among others, disclosed the Ministry had already done the enumeration and valuation of the buildings, which external valuers were also engaged.
While notifying them that compensations would be made within the ambits of the law, he pointed out that the present administration has a human face, hence the ample consideration given to sensitising the communities before embarking on the demolition and expansion exercise.
“We embarked on this public enlightenment as the government of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti believes in due process while still being in a hurry to develop the state…We will give a human face to all decisions taken as we are all Abians.”
Speaking also, a representative of the Attorney General of the State, Barr. Mrs. Oge Maduka assured the communities that everything would be done within the armbit of the law, maintaining further that the expansion was for the best interest of the communities involved and Abians in general.
According to her, the presence of the Attorney General in the sensitisation visit was to also assure that the job would not only be done as stipulated but would also be done well and peacefully too.
She said that the purpose of the sensitisation visit is for them to have the assurance of the government and a fair agreement reached.
Speaking respectively, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands and Housing, ESV Pastor Okorougo Aji, Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security, Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba assured that Gov. Otti will not let the Ossah people and other communities affected down and pleaded with them the development coming their way, which they maintained that it is for their good.
Also speaking, respectively, the Chairman Nigerian Institute of Town planners, Mr. Steve Nwazue, a Director in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr. Augustine Ucheibe and a representative of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Arc. Amos Chinedu explained that a notice of demolition had already been served to the owners of the affected buildings and that it will affect about 160 structures; adding also that internal and external valuations were done and that a step by step action with guiding rules would be applied in the demolition exercise. They also informed that the second demolition notice would be served to the affected.
In their respective response, the Traditional Ruler of Eziama na Mgbaja Ossah Autonomous community; Eze Chiabuto Emelike, his counterparts from Isingwu autonomous community, Eze Daniel Ukaegbu and Okpu Isingwu autonomous community, Eze Kingsley Emekobum and Eze Joshua Akomas Uzzi na Akpizu autonomous community; a Traditional Prime Minister, Mr. Christopher Onwuegbu and the President General of Eziama na Mgbaja Ossah autonomous community, Mr. Obiakaraije Dandy Ndukwe appreciated the road expansion initiative of the Governor but passionately appealed that compensations should also be made to those who inherited their ancestral lands and those who genuinely owned properties but without Certificate of Occupancy.
While congratulating the Lands and Housing Commissioner on his appointment, they assured that they would not work against the government since they earnestly prayed for Dr. Otti’s emergence as governor.
They equally appreciated the Commissioner and his entourage for meaningfully engaging the community Leaders on the development.
