BY VINCENT UJUMADU
HUNDREDS of people from Awka, the Anambra State capital, especially the youths, yesterday embarked on a peaceful demonstration to drive home their opposition to alleged illegal acquisition of their land by agents of the state government.

But the permanent secretary in the state ministry of lands, survey and town planning, Mr. Douglas Mba, said all land acquired by the state government were duly compensated for.

Specifically, the said land, estimated to be about 1600 plots, is located at the highbrow Ngozika Estate in the capital city which is being developed by a private developer. The leader of the group, Chief Anayo Obidigbo, who ordered artisans on site to stop work, said that the state government did not write or consult them before acquiring the land. He said that they would vehemently oppose further construction on the land until proper acquisition was made by the state government. He said: “There are procedures under the Land Use Act of 1978 for acquisition of land by government “No compensatory land was given; no compensation on crops destroyed or valuation was made; neither was there any committee set up by government to liaise with the community.”

According to him, the purported acquisition by a private developer and the state government was illegal and was not in the public interest, adding that “if the land was acquired for the construction of an international hospital or any other project, you will not find us here.”

He claimed that the developer is selling each plot for N8 million and residential building at N35 million, describing the situation as mere land speculation by shylock developers in collaboration with the state government.

Another community leader, Comrade Obi Ochije said the peaceful protest was aimed at asking the government to duly compensate the community, adding that a legal action was also being considered.

He added: “We have written them to come and settle with the community, but we have not got any response from them.

“We have been told that the land was sold on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, but how could that be done without the knowledge of the owners of the land?”

Ochije said the community was willing to settle with the owners of the plots taken already if all the terms and conditions were met.

However, the permanent secretary in the state ministry of lands, survey and town planning, said all land acquired by the state government were duly compensated for.

He said: “Government pays compensation for all the land it acquires, but if they feel otherwise, they should notify us in writing, rather than threaten war.”