The Akwa Ibom state Governor Umo Bassey Eno, has directed the Commissioner for Lands Capt. Iniobong Ekong, rtd, that all lands within Industrial park that have not been developed into industries be revoked.
He also directed the Honourable Commissioner to ensure enforcement of the order by revoking all such ownership rights and reclaim the lands for government.
Governor Eno gave the directive while inspecting the Industrial park ahead of the proposed establishment of fashion and shoe factories at Mbak Itam 3, Itu LGA, south south Nigeria.
Eno while getting upset over the idea of a few privileged persons acquiring parcels of land in the area designated by the state government for industrial purposes, he said for over ten years, people just acquired the lands and didn’t do anything. “It doesn’t make sense at all.”
“It is either they tell us what they want to do, give us the time line and then we monitor it or we will reclaim those lands and then use it for the purpose for which it was meant for in the original master plan,” he said.
The Governor who also directed that portions of lands in the area be set aside for the construction of clothing and shoe factories to complement the remodelling drive of government in the education sector, appealed to citizens to allow Governmment do what will benefit them.
“I would like to beg the Akwa Ibom People to allow us do what will benefit the generality of the public,” Eno said.
He continued, “that will avail the state government clothes and foot wears for supply to school children without interference of the middlemen,”
He solicited the cooperation of the people in his initiative, saying the State government was also considering reconstruction of collapsed roads around the area to ease transportation for the industries that would sprout within the industrial park.