Zion Ministry’s Ngo Okpala Not Newly Acquired Land Under Chief Achike Udenwa.
…. Caution’s Detractors to Stop Propagating Falsehood.
Anselem Anokwute
The Imo State government has cautioned detractors to stop Propagating falsehood against the genuine land allocations to Zion Ministry Incorporated at Mba Isii, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of the state for the purpose of public interest.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, said that ordinary his ministry would have taken it with a “pinch of salt” as “Dr. Sam Amadi” is a well known oppositions fellow to the government but for the avoidance of doubt precepting the reply to put the record straight.
He maintained that the alleged, Dr. Amadi is not a member of the Mba Isii Ngo Okpala but Imerienwe Community and demanded to know his interest over the land that was acquired by the Imo State government under Chief Achike Uzoma Udenwa before it gets to the present government in which the Land, about 1000, Hectares was allocated to the Zion Ministry.
He explained that the land in total was 2,000 hectares acquired by the Imo State government and not 30,000 misquoted by Dr. Amadi and his cohorts, a land acquired in 2003 by the then Governor Achike Udenwa’s administration after following due process, including the establishment of an Interface Committee between owners and government and adequately payment of the compensations.
According to him the Land was originally acquired for Imo Gwandom Project; an export processing zone in partnership with Chinese investors but the inability of the project to materialize prompted former Governor Rochas Okorocha during his tenure to re-allocate same to Imo-Chelsea Ltd for integrated agricultural project which also did not take off and all the past governors after Chief Udenwa tried to make use of the land but failed until Zion Ministry and it was made known to them that the land belongs to the State and the judiciously apply and after duely diligence the allocations was offered to them. ‘”It’s those that want to sell government land that are currently agitating not Mba Isii Ngo Okpala people”.
Barr. Onuegbu, also an indigene of the area, added that after failed attempts by successive governments in the state to utilize the land, and applications received from investors for the land in recent times that prompted Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration to consider the imperative of allocating 1,000 hectares part of the land to the Zion Ministry for integrated development.
According to him, the government only came in contact with the Zion Ministry concerning the land during the prayer ministry’s search for the status of the property at the Ministry of Land, following an attempt by some trespassers to sell the government acquired land to the ministry.
The Commissioner stated that failed efforts to rip-off the ministry, got the trespassers disappointed and infuriated, with no option than to resort to blackmailing the state government and the Zion Ministry which he said after the discovery, made formal application for the land to the government and was considered.
He further disclosed that Governor Hope Uzodimma who is desirous of developing the state, was satisfied with Zion Ministry’s intended use for the land which included building of an auditorium, hospital, schools, industries, skills acquisition centre, market, event center and estate, with employment opportunities for the indigines of the area and Imo State in general.
Barr Onuegbu who urged the public to disregard claims by Dr. Sam Amadi and his group, berated the ex-NERC boss who is not from the area for resorting to media trial, instead of pursuing the matter they instituted at the Imo State High Court. He hailed the presence of Zion Ministry as bringing transformation to the area, adding his reaction was to guide the public against falsehood, as he expressed respect and confidence in the judicial process.
Present at the Press Briefing, include Imo State Survey General, Surv. Odidika Bob Uzodimma and HRH, Eze Fred Nwachukwu, Chairman Owerri Zone and Ngo Okpala Council of Traditional Rulers and Community Policing.
While the commissioner use the medium to urged the people of Mba Isii to be patient in order to reap the benefits of the development unfolding in the areas through the Zion Ministry. He also called on other investors to come to the state, assuring them of peace, safety and returns on their investments.
Barr Enyinnaya Onuegbu, further, expressed his concern and worries on the high levels of Land Racketeering and grabbing in the area since the emergence of the Zion ministry in the area and made it clear that the government will not spare any invasion of land in the area which is on both sides of the road and called for more investors to ensure the area is developed into a Searchlight Town in the State.
