By Ibrahim Bakare
The Rivers
State Task Force on Recovery of Government Properties has directed all illegal
occupants of Government Properties across the 23 Local Government Areas of the
state to vacate such properties.
The Task
Force stated that it is working diligently to ensure that it takes possession
of all Government Properties illegally occupied by unauthorised persons.
Addressing journalists after operations by the Task Force on Thursday, Secretary of the Task Force, Chief Hanny Woko said that the Task Force has shown presence in four estates in Eleme and Etche Local Government Areas.
The Rivers
State Task Force on Recovery of Government Properties carried operations at the
Eleme Gardens Estate, Mega Trailer Park Ebubu Eleme, Sam Ewang Estate Igbo
Etche and Palm view Estate Igbo Etche.
He said:
“Eleme Gardens is a massive Government Property acquired during Dr Peter
Odili’s tenure. The Estate was built by the Federal Government, but bought and
fully paid for by the Rivers State Government. The Estate has over 100
hectares. Fifty hectares on either side
of the road.
“We
have shown presence at the Estate and we have informed the illegal occupants to
vacate the Estate. We don’t foresee any resistance because they are only
squatting. They have been issued the
relevant quit notice.”
He added:
“We appreciate the fact that no portion of the land has been carved out
for illegal sales. They are all intact.
Just the bungalows are vandalised.
“We use
this medium to warn anyone illegally staying in Government Properties wherever
they are located across the 23 Local Government Areas to vacate and deliver the
properties to the State Government”.
He said the
Task Force will not allow any without approved allocation, illegally take over
Government Properties.
He said:
“Igbo Etche, Iriebe and all Government lands in the 23 Local Government
Areas. If you are there, please leave.
There will be no room to tolerate illegal occupants.
“This
place can accommodate high class civil servants in the state. The Governor
knows how best this place will be used for the benefit of the State.”
At the Palm
View Estate, Igbo Etche, Secretary of the Task Force regretted that private
individuals have invaded the place.
He said that the illegal occupants carved out plots of land for themselves and started building.
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He said:
“We are calling on intending buyers and those who illegally bought land to
vacate the Estate. If you have money to waste, then continue building. This is because any illegal structure here
would be demolished
“We are
going to recover this estate 100 percent and hand it over to the state Government.
To members of the public, before you buy land anywhere, carry out due
diligence.”
