The Rivers Transparency Watch Initiative has thrown its weight behind the Rivers State Government’s decision to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy for the former Trans-Amadi Slaughter market land, now occupied by a popular shopping mall.
In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Charles Umeh, the group applauded the government’s move, which follows a peaceful protest by Oginigba community residents.
The community had alleged that they were misled into believing the land would be used for a government project, only to discover it was allocated to a former governor’s private shopping mall.
RTWI urged the state government to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations and take necessary actions if due procedures were not followed in the land acquisition, according to Nigerian Tribune.
The group emphasized that the government is the rightful owner of all lands and advocated for the revocation of Certificates of Occupancy for illegally acquired lands.
“The move is timely and commendable as the state cannot afford to allow the illegal conversion of public property into private use,” the statement said.
“The administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has once again demonstrated that it has the interests of Riverians at heart by promptly reacting to the peaceful protest by the people of Oginigba community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
“Credible information at our disposal revealed that the Oginigba community was misled into believing that the land would be used for a government project, only to later discover that it was allocated to a private shopping mall owned by a former governor of the state for commercial purposes.
“It is unheard of for a public property such as a whole market to be criminally converted into private use. It is disheartening to hear the distressing account that was shared by the protesters.
“We call on the Rivers State Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take necessary actions if due procedures were not followed in the acquisition of the disputed land.
“His Excellency, Similayi Fubara, has established a reputation for integrity and transparency, and we trust that he would do justice to this particular issue and other similar cases.
“We ask that this action be extended to other similar cases to rectify the illegality introduced into the land allocation system in the state. Constitutionally, the governor is the rightful owner and guardian of all lands in Rivers State. Therefore, Governor Fubara should revoke all illegally acquired lands’ Certificates of Occupancy in the best interest of the state.”
