Enugu government restores purportedly revoked lands to NULGE, Emene community

The Enugu State government has restored Plot P/23CA Independence Layout, Enugu, which was purportedly revoked without the governor’s approval pursuant to the Land Use Act, to the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) “in line with allocation Ref. No. LEN 29329/4 of January 21, 2011.”

The restoration of the land to NULGE was contained in a letter addressed to the union by the new Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Nnanyelugo Chidi Aroh, dated November 16, 2021.

Aroh disclosed that the action of the ministry came after “we have carefully reviewed the protest from your organisation (NULGE) and other affiliate bodies, namely the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).”

The commissioner maintained that the purported revocation of the said land was done without the approval of the governor pursuant to the Land Use Act.

He, therefore, stated that the state’s Ministry of Lands and Urban Development with the approval of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “pursuant to the Land Use Act and contained in a letter reference No. GHS/56/LXIX/246 dated November 11, 2021, do hereby cancel and nullify any previous revocation of Plot P/23CA Independence Layout, Enugu, having been done without the approval of His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State.”

The statement added that “the organisation (NULGE) is therefore required to complete all processes of regularisation and commence development immediately in line with extant laws and regulations.”

In a similar development, Aroh, in a letter to His Royal Highness (HRH) Igwe F.O Ugwu of Emene Nike Community, dated November 16, 2021, notified the monarch of the state government’s cancellation and nullification of the notice of acquisition issued to Emene community with Ref. No. LEN 39902/2 covering 197.8 hectares in Survey Plan No. EN (E) 2802.

Aroh pointed out that the ministry’s decision had the approval of the governor pursuant to the Land Use Act contained in letter reference No. GHS/56/LXIX/293 dated November 11, 2021.

“Subsequently, all rights and interests in the above described land revert to the Emene community as was existing before the purported acquisition, which was done without the approval of the governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as required by the extant law,” the commissioner said.