In apparent reaction to the insistence by Amawom people in Owerri Nchi – Ise that the Area K land located along World Bank Housing Estate, Owerri, will not be used for any purpose without adequate compensation, theImoStategovernment may have finalized plans to site projects designated for Area K elsewhere.
It will be recalled that the Okorocha administration had intended to construct a five – star hotel and an Ecumenical centre at Area K, but was hamstring to do so, as Amawom indigenes barricaded the land preventing construction of the projects.
However, government’s latest action is anchored on the submission of the Commissioner for Lands and Urban planning, Barr Uche Nwosu, who spoke on a Hot FM phone – in programme, “Issues of the Moment”. He said government has decided to site the projects elsewhere. He did not say where the new projects will be sited.
Meanwhile, a Human Rights legal group, has raised concern over government’s neglect of Allotees of Area K.
In a statement signed by Evangelist FPC Duruobi, the legal group, on behalf of the Allotees regretted that despite the fact “that this Allotees, not only fulfilled the agreement by paying all necessary dues required by law but were issued with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) which is an authentic recognition by government to the Allotees.
The statement continued “However, things fell apart when the present government lawfully or unlawfully bulldozed the land and made announcement both on air and print that all Allotees of Housing Area K’ and R’ and Ekwema layout originally known and called the above are frozen by the state government”
The group wondered if the state government had the Allotees in mind before engaging or rolling out such obnoxious policy.
While the group sought for a round table discussion between government and the allotees, Allotees, it advised the Okorocha administration to desist from the practice of previous governments which usually indulge in the act of “come in, take your share and go”.
