Governor Soludo Inaugurates Land Recovery Committee In Anambra State

By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka

On May 3, 2023

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has inaugurated a seven-man land recovery committee for Onitsha, Nnewi, Idemili, and their environs in the State.

The inaugurating the committee took place at an event inside the conference hall of the Ministry of Lands, Awka the State capital on Tuesday.

The governor through the Commissioner for lands, Professor Offornze Amucheazi,SAN, declared that his administration would not condone land grabbing or encroachments of any kind on government-owned lands and properties.

The Governor mandated the committee to take record and recover all government owned lands and properties within their terms of reference.

The Governor assured the committee that his government would avail them of all the necessary support and logistics as proper land management is at the core of his administration’s vision of a prosperous, peaceful and liveable homeland for the people of Anambra State.

He particularly called on the committee to pay special attention to Onitsha and its environs. He used the opportunity to condemn the practice of developments on roads, particularly in Trans Nkissi Layout, Onitsha, where buildings are being erected on government roads, thereby defacing the original master plan of the Layout.

“Recommendations on steps to be taken to stem this ugly development, have been made in the gazetted white paper of the Land Reform Committee.”

He promised that the government would commence implementation of the Recommendations of the Land Reform Committee soon.

According to the Governor, “Members of the land recovery committee which include His Royal Highness, Igwe Charles Chuma Agbala as Chairman, Mr Dan Nwankwo as Secretary, Sir Chukwuma Vincent, Sir Emma Onwughalu, Mr Agudosi Ngozika, Mr Ofala Okafor as well as Surveyor Oluchukwu Uzochukwu representing the Ministry of Lands were selected based on their antecedents and capacity to help in sustaining the ongoing land administration reform in the state.”

Speaking on behalf of the committee members, the Chairman of the committee, Igwe Agbala thanked the Governor for finding them worthy for the job and promised to carry out their assignment dutifully as well as based on their terms of reference.

The committee inauguration, which was witnessed by Mr Edwin Ejike and Mrs Chineze Obih, the Permanent Secretary and H.O.D Lands respectively along other management staff of Ministry of Lands, has among other terms of reference, to identify all government owned lands and properties in Nnewi, Onitsha, Idemili and their environs and advise the state government on the best means to recover them. The committee is expected to conclude its assignment in two months.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of appointment letters to the committee members.

Land Recovery Committee The Governor of Anambra State