By Emma Amaize

…Govt wades in, suspends further sales
WARRI Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Warri, Delta State, has complained about alleged encroachment on its property by Ifiekporo and Ijalla communities to the Delta State Government.

A source said part of the land in question have even been sold by some persons in the communities, a development that made the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to direct the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Hon. Mofe Pirah to step into the matter and report back urgently to him. At a meeting with leaders of the communities, Hon Pirah warned that government would not condone infringement on government lands by communities. He told them government received a petition from WRPC, a subsidiary of NNPC that Ijalla and Ifiekporo communities have encroached on their acquired land.

Pirah said the Ministry of Land had been directed to survey the land based on available land documents of the area and determine the actual boundary. The commissioner asked the communities to inform those that bought the disputed land to attend the next meeting to be informed of the development. He said information at his disposal showed that WRPC decided not to fence the landed area because the matter was pending in court and wondered why the communities were selling part of the land.

Government, therefore, ordered suspension of activities on the land until the next meeting when the Ministry of Lands was expected to have completed its assignment on the boundary between WRPC and the communities.

Mrs. Pauline Avose, who represented the Ministry of Lands at the meeting, said the ministry would comply by the resolution, while the leader of Ifiekporo Community, Mr. Monday Akpeyi said WRPC did not inform the community that it was encroaching on its property. He, however, said the community was prepared to abide by government’s directive.