The Enugu State government has met with leaders of the Aguowa community ahead of the planned relocation of residents, as part of the government’s plan to clear all slums in Enugu city by the end of 2026.
During the meeting held at the Government House in Enugu, the state government announced that verification of property owners in Aguowa would begin today, Friday, April 25, with a two-week deadline set for the submission of title documents to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, commencing on Monday, April 28.
Clarifying the process, the Commissioner for Housing, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, noted that the simple submission of property documents would not suffice for verification. He explained that each property owner would need to stand with their document in front of the property for physical verification.
“The verification process will go beyond the submission of property documents. We want to conduct physical verification. We will carry out eye-marking. You will stand in front of your property, and we will assess it — the size, the document you have — whether it is a Certificate of Occupancy or not. The government will decide which properties are fit for habitation and which ones need to go.
“Governor Mbah plans to remove all slums in Enugu city by 2026. That is why this exercise is important. The governor has stated that we will assist those who have issues with their title documents, because without a valid title, relocation cannot be granted. The relocation process will also be at no cost,” the commissioner said.
Dr Ikechukwu Nebo, a stakeholder from the Aguowa community, expressed gratitude for the manner in which the issue was being resolved, affirming that the governor had the best interest of the people and the state in mind.
Governor Peter Mbah promised to involve the people of Aguowa in their plans, and that has been the case.
I thank the commissioner for the way this meeting has resolved the issue of the old and the new. Everybody is happy,” he said.
Also, a resident of Aguowa, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ozoaka, pledged her support for all government efforts to develop Aguowa.
However, she urged the state government to approach the relocation or resettlement process with compassion.
“If the government intends to redevelop Aguowa, it is a positive and commendable initiative, but when the process begins, they should consider the human aspect,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Lands, Chimaobi Okorie, stressed the importance of verification, assuring the people that it was about transparency, taking inventory of property ownership, and verifying inherited and other types of properties.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters and Inter-Ministerial Relations, Juliet Okonkwo, assured stakeholders from the Aguowa community that the governor’s actions were in their best interest and that of the state.
“Since May 29, 2023, when Dr Peter Mbah was sworn in as governor, his focus has been on improving Enugu, both in rural and urban areas. Some have questioned why Aguowa was singled out, but it is not the only area. There are about 25 slum areas that will be cleared. While we may have started with Aguowa, we will address the other 24 sites as well. This is for the benefit of all 25 areas,” Okonkwo said.
