From Wilson Okereke, Afikpo
Ebonyi State Government has threatened to revoke all the undeveloped plots in the state, especially those in the government designated layouts. he government said the undeveloped layouts have become safe haven for criminals and vowed that it cannot close its eyes and allow the plots to continue to be used by criminals in their activities.
The state Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Mathew Nwobashi, who stated this at a press briefing in Abakaliki, disclosed that the government has given timeline for the owners of the undeveloped lands to develop them and that if they fail to do so, they would be revoked and given to serious developers who would develop them.
“We had on August 2023, set up a committee to look into the activities of Eguogboriga layout. I made public last year of the government intentions to revoke all undeveloped plots in the government designated areas or layouts, including Camp David, Nsugbe and other layouts, which the government has given to people and they have refused to develop them.
“These areas have turned to a treasure island for criminals and the government cannot close its eyes and watch a hide out for criminals to exist.”
He noted that Eguogboriga layout in the state capital would be redesigned without delay. According to him, the redesigning of the layout was to enable the government address land encroachment issues and other activities.