Abia State Government Demolishes Illegal Structures on Government College Land
In a move to reclaim government land, the Abia State Government on Saturday began demolishing structures erected by illegal occupants on the land belonging to Government College, Umuahia. The demolition exercise, which serves as a warning to those who encroach on government land, was led by Kingsley Agomoh, the general manager of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA.
According to Agomoh, the Abia State government handed over the Government College Umuahia to the institution’s Old Boys association with a certificate of occupancy. He expressed surprise that some individuals would still attempt to sell government land, emphasizing the importance of proper inquiry before purchasing plots of land.
The occupants of the encroached land were served notice before the demolition, and Agomoh stated that the structures standing on the encroached areas now belong to the Government College, Umuahia.
Friday Ohaeri, chairman of Umuana Ndume lbeku, explained that the encroached land belongs to the Government College Umuahia, and that their forefathers voluntarily donated the land to government. He noted that those who encroached on the land did so for selfish interests, not on behalf of the Umuana Community.
Eze Justice Chinonyerem Uwaka, the Second National Vice President of Government College Umuahia Old Boys Association, recalled that the encroached areas were once the college’s farmland. He explained that the association had previously asked the illegal occupants to leave the area, but they claimed that the land was sold to them by the people of Umuana.
Uwaka maintained that the state government handed over the school to the Old Boys of Government College for educational development with the Certificate of Occupancy, and that the exercise will serve as a warning to others.
This development comes as the Abia State Government recently set up a committee to recover about 180 school lands that were allegedly taken over by individuals. The demolition exercise is a significant step towards reclaiming government land and promoting transparency in land transactions.
