By Kingsley Omonobi

THE people of Oghara in Delta State have protested the alleged take over of their land by the Nigerian Navy.

The protesters blocked the Benin-Warri section of the East-West Road for hours over claims of illegal encroachment on their land by the Navy authorities.

But reacting to the protest, the Navy High Command in Abuja, in a statement by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, said, “The Naval Headquarters has reviewed the incident that occurred at Oghara in Delta State during which some people from the host community blocked the Benin-Warri section of the East-West Road over claims of illegal encroachment on their land.

“The protest which lasted for some time caused discomfort to members of the public who were denied free access through the area.  Though the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Naval Logistics Command based in Oghara, promptly reacted, it is imperative to make further clarification on the status of the parcels of land allocated to the Nigerian Navy by the Delta State Government in Oghara on which the following facilities are being sited: Headquarters Naval Logistics Command, Nigerian Navy Ultra-modern Barracks, NN Air Strip and other auxiliary structures.

“It is on record that an initial allocation of 213 hectares of land was given to the service by the Delta State Government in 2008 for the construction of NN Barracks.  However, due to the nature of facilities planned for the barracks, the NN viewed that there was a need for a more expansive area hence an additional request was made to the Delta State Government,  following which 30 hectares of land previously ceded to the Mobile Police was re-allocated to the Navy.

“Consequently, the Mobile Police was relocated to Ogharafe another community around the area. In view of the additional 30 hectres of land allocated to the Nigerian Navy, the Delta State Government issued a duly certified Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for 243 hectares of land to the Navy.”