A civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has applauded what it called the “range of forward-looking decisions made by the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to check the proliferation of cases of alleged land speculations and land grab phenomenon in Obeagu/Amechi Awkunawnaw land of Enugu metropolitan area of the state reputed to be the political capital of the South East of Nigeria.”

HURIWA said it has been inundated with petitions from distressed Nigerians especially from Enugu State South East of Nigeria regarding alleged cases of land speculations and deprivation of their right to own immovable property as recognised by the Constitution in Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution.

According to HURIWA, “Any state governor with a mindset that projects the state as investors’ friendly and yearns for rapid industrialization of the state must double up efforts towards tackling the threats posed by alleged land speculators and land grabbers so as to truly make the ease of doing business seamless and result-oriented.

“Land administration must be sanitized so as to attract good corporate citizens to invest in the state and create employment opportunities for the ordinary people of such states.”

Besides, the rights group has expressed optimism that “the no-nonsense Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai reputed to be a professionally disciplined soldier will investigate the alleged involvement of the General Officer Commanding 82 Division and the Garrison Commander of 82 Division over alleged intimidation, cruelty, undue and unnecessary deployment of soldiers by a firm of developers in Enugu State.”

The rights group confirmed that it got a petition concerning the matter which was endorsed by the law firm of Chijioke Obinna and Associates based in the nation’s capital.

On the allegations made against the GOC 82 Division in Enugu, Brig Gen Lasisi Adegboye, over land-related rights violations, the rights group affirmed what it has deep trust and confidence in the capacity of the hierarchy of the Army to entertain the comprehensive petition with a view to applying the most effective panacea to end the rights abuses.

HURIWA stated that it is aware of many steps adopted by the Civil-Military Relations Department of the Nigerian Army in the Army headquarters to improve the respect of the human rights of all Nigerians in all internal military operations that are legitimate and done based on public interest.

In a statement on Friday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said the recent revocation of a land title allegedly connected with illegal establishment of private housing estate in Enugu by the Governor has indeed served the public interest of the natives who have persistently alleged deprivation of their access to their land.

Said HURIWA in the statement: “We have just been informed about a letter dated November 27th 2019 issued under the Land Use Act, with specific reference to Article 1028 titled, ‘Notice Of Revocation Of Allocation Of 1097 Hectares Of Obeagu/Amechi Awkunawnaw Land, Enugu With Building Certificate Of Occupancy Registered As No. 20/20/1622 In The Lands Registry, Enugu’, and reportedly endorsed by Victor Chukwuemeka Nnam, the Commissioner of Lands and Urban Development Enugu State and addressed to Private Estate International West Africa and other members of the public who may have genuine interests in the above mentioned plot of land in which the Enugu state government stated thus: “Notice is hereby given to you who have or may still have genuine interests in 1097 Hectares of Obeagu/Amechi Awkunawnaw Land, Enugu that the allocation of the said 1097 Hectares of Obeagu/Amechi Awkunawnaw Land, Enugu registered as No. 20/20/1622 has been revoked for breach of covenant and conditions under section 28(5)(a) and (b) of the Land Use Act of 1976.”

HURIWA has therefore challenged the Enugu state government to ensure that nothing will stand in the way of the government’s plans to industrialise the state and create enabling environment for economic productivity and profitability by both the citizens and the state government.

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