DELTA CONSIDERS REDUCTION OF LAND REGULARIZATION COST

With just 16 days to the expiration of the December 31 deadline issued by the State Government for the regularization of the portions of land located on the contentious Core Area two in Okpanam town, Oshimili South Local Government Area of the State, there is the likelihood that the State Government will consider a further downward review of the exercise cost.


Following serial appeals made by affected landowners during a town hall meeting attended by officials of the ministry of Lands and Surveys and owners of lands in the contentious core area two, Chief Dan Okenyi, the subsisting Commissioner of the ministry, yesterday, said he will convey the appeals of the over 2,190 land owners to the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who wields the authority to approve such reduction.


See GOVT FINDS MISSING DOCUMENTS ON CORE AREA 2


Okenyi told the landlords, many of which are civil servants, pensioners, traders and clerics, that it is not within his power to reduce the N750,000 amount slated for the regularization exercise, but pointed out that the December 31 deadline may be extended if the need arises.




Chief Frank Omare 


“You have made an appeal to government and I will tell you that your message will be adequately conveyed. I don’t have the power to reduce the price but as for the extension of the deadline, let us get to December 31 first; after December 31, we will think of what to do”, he told the land owners.


Nonetheless, he appealed to the affected landlords to immediately go for their land Regularization, adding that the fast track unit of the ministry is willing to offer an installment payment arrangement for those who may not be able to pay for the exercise at a go.


Also read OKOWA CONCLUDES PLANS TO DEAL WITH OVER 2,000 DELTANS


He disclosed that against professional advice, the State Government has no intention of demolishing structures in the core Area 2, particularly in light of the lingering economic crunch, adding that while the State Government will always show a human face in its dealings, it will also make reciprocal responses to the actions of the affected land owners.


On his part, the Director General of Special Programmes in the State, Chief Frank Omare cautioned against the tendency of personalising his official duties, noting that he had always acted in tandem with the letters of his engagement.


Check GOVT GOES TOUGH ON LAND ENCROACHMENT


Omare disclosed that he has held no fewer than 11 dialogue meetings with the affected land lords since the last three months, explaining that the serial meetings are pointers to the desire of the State Government to apply diplomacy in handling the issue.


Some of the landlords who spoke at the event appealed to Governor Okowa to approve a further reduction in the cost of the Regularization exercise and also called for more time for them to meet up with its financial demand.