The people of Umuakali-Elu Naze, Owerri North local government area of Imo State, have requested for adequate compensation from government over their 500 plots of lands that were forcefully taken by the previous administrations.
The community demanded that out of the over 500 plots of lands they lost to government and some mean persons- 25% compensation should be given to them quickly to enable them reduce stress, suffering and vulnerability.
Speaking at the presentation on the programs/actions of the Implementation Committee of the Government Whitepaper on Lands and Related Matters headed by Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie held at the Concorde Hotel Owerri on Tuesday, the people requested government to issue them with “allocation paper in respect of the 25% compensatory plots for taking over our lands of more than 500 plots at Otamiri South Extension Layout in compliance with Government Whitepaper”.
They added that “government should pay them adequate compensation in respect of Timbre Market Phase 1. It should clarify the hanging issue whether Timbre Market Phase 2 was legally acquired or not. It should also state the position of Naze Residential Area, whether it was legally acquired by government or not to which no compensation was paid”, the community said.
Lamenting cheating and negligence by government, Onyeneke asked the committee to issue Umuakali-Elu Naze indigenes a document as proof for allocating 25 plots of lands to them, calling on government to quickly implement the verdicts of the committee to relieve them of excruciating penury.
