Imo Government has pledged to complete the ongoing sanitisation of the state’s lands records keeping system within the shortest possible time.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Planning, Mr Enyinnaya Onuegbu, made the pledge in a communique by his Media Assistant, Mr Chuks Opurum, on Monday in Owerri.
Onuegbu, who commended Imo residents for keeping faith with Gov. Hope Uzodinma-led administration throughout his first year in office, promised that the gains of 2020 would be consolidated upon in the years to come.
He decried the “racketeering of landed property in the previous administration”, and assured the people that the ministry under his watch would bring sanity to the system of lands allocation.
He said that with a policy thrust anchored on the “3R Mantra” of rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery, the present administration would put smiles on the faces of potential investors and restore the people’s confidence in land acquisition and allocation.
“Anybody who visits the ministry of lands presently will notice that there is a paradigm shift. The first thing you will notice is that thugs, agents and fake speculators are no longer there.
“We have revitalised the ministry and restored confidence of land owners, businessmen and the international community as well as staff of the ministry,’’ he said.
Onuegbu, however, called for patience on the part of intending investors as according to him, the present government has yet to commence allocation of land for private use.
He cautioned prospective buyers to be wary of dubious persons who allocate lands to unsuspecting buyers in the guise that they are agents of government.
He added that allocation would begin when the Nigeria Printing and Minting Company (NPMC) supplies new Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) in line with a directive from Gov. Uzodinma which would replace former ones.
“The government of Uzodinma has not commenced allocation of land for private use in Imo. We are also not acquiring any land presently. Any speculator that comes to you claiming that he is an agent of the state government is a dupe.
“We have not commenced because we are expecting the gazette and we are still preparing allocation papers.
“The governor has authorised the Nigerian Printing and Minting Company to print new C of O. We have not taken delivery of it yet, so any transaction founded on those past ones will not see the light of day,’’ he said.
He assured the people that all activities of the ministry were in the best interests of the masses and increased support for the government to enable it actualise its people-friendly aspirations.