There is furry in Abia community over government's
failure to pay compensation for land housing ministries, parastatals in the
state capital, Umuahia.
The people of Ihie Ndume community in Umuahia North
Local Government Area of Abia State seem to have lost their patience with the
State Government over the later's failure to pay compensation for land housing
its various buildings including the new Civil Servants Secretariat. Ndume is
one of the major land donors to the New Government Layout at Ogurube where a
number of Ministries and parastatals are located .
The locals are worried that years after Government
took over their ancestral land for
developmental purposes, and buildings erected on them, Government has refused
to pay any form of compensation despite promises to that effect . Irked by
Government's reluctance to do the needful youths from the community last week
stormed Government House Umuahia to register their grievance.
The youths who carried placards bearing various
instruction told Government to stop taking their patience for granted. They
accused Government of neglecting them . They demanded full and out-right
compensation of the affected land.
Apart from compensation the embittered youths also
demanded job opportunities/engagement into the State Civil Service. They also
accused government of marginalising them in employment offers including
political appointments.
Handing over their protest letter to Gov. Ikpeazu, the Youth Leader, Ojiabo Ogechi said
the community "is currently suffering from acute land shortage " as
the bulk of their ancestral land has been taken over by Government. He said
that the compensation if paid would assist them in acquiring land in the
neighbouring communities.
He identified
some areas occupied by State Ministries to include State Secretariat
Complex, Industrial Market, Federal Pay Office and Jack Building plus twelve
other ministries and parastatals sited on their lands.
His words : "Our community is the largest land
donor in the state, it is disheartening to note that despite these huge
investments we made, the community have nothing to show. We are undergoing
untold hardship and we can no longer continue to keep quiet hence our protest
is for you to help us, he said”.
“Your Excellency, our community has the highest number
of unemployed youths yet no compensation was paid to us. We have good number of
University graduates and skilled labour yet we have no jobs. We can not go for
farm because our lands have been taken over by government”, said Ojiabo.
The Governor represented by his Principal Secretary,
Chief Emma Nwabuko thanked the youths
for their peaceful comportment, assuring them of prompt action. He noted
that their demands were legitimate but pleaded with them to remain calm while
efforts were being made to settle their matter.
He also promised that his administration would
continue to positivity engage youths in the state to give them a sense of
belonging and to help harness their potentials.
Photo:Ndume
youths protesting non payment of compensation for the land donated by their
community to Abia State Government.
Written by Steve Oko
Ripples in Abia community over non-payment of land compensation by govt
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Saturday, August 18, 2018
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