By Onyinyechi Nwankwo
Imo State Government has taken a position over the acquisition and allocation of lands to Zion Ministry in Mbaisii communities in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of the State.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, who addressed journalists in his office, Tuesday, in Owerri, explained that the said land was duly allocated to Zion Ministry by the Imo State Government in 2018, informing that the land belonged to the government prior to the allocation, having been legally acquired.
Onuegbu who strongly condemned the activities of some persons from the area who he accused of undermining the effort of the Zion Ministry and the Imo State Government in developing the area and giving employment to youths.
He noted that government did not acquire new lands and sold to Zion Ministry,other than the 1000 hectares of land earlier allocated to Zion Ministry, urging the people to ignore the falsehood being spread by some persons in the media who he described as “agents of darkness.”
He disclosed that Mbaisii which is made up of Ikem, Alatia, Ntu, Amala and Eziama autonomous communities willingly gave out their lands to the government in 2003 .
The state government now, in 2018 legally allocated them to Zion Ministry with the intention of development of the area. The commissioner wondered why some persons from Ngor-Okpala are trying to cause crisis there by alleging that the government did not follow due process in acquiring the the said land.
“The matter is in the court and we are going to prosecute detractors. say
” Investors are welcomed to invest in the area”, he stated,assuring them of adequate safety and security by the government.
