The Nigerian Navy (NN) has ruled out any compensation to Oghara community on land that it said the Delta State government legitimately gave out and certified as required by law.
A statement issued by Director of Information (DINFO), Commodore Christian Ezekobe, said it was allocated by the government in phases when it became obvious that some of the facilities outlined for construction would not sit comfortably on the land initially allotted.
“It is on record that an initial allocation of 213 hectres of land was given to the Service by the Delta State Government in 2008 for the construction of NN Barracks. However, due to the nature of facilities planned for the barracks, the NN viewed that there was a need for a more expansive area hence an additional request was made to the Delta State government following which 30 hectres of land previously ceded to the Mobile Police was re-allocated to the NN. Consequently, the Mobile Police was relocated to Ogharefe, another community around the area,” Ezekobe said.
According to him, the additional 30 hectres vacated by the Mobile Police makes the total land belonging to the Nigerian Navy to be 243 hectres.He further said: “The Delta State Government issued a duly certified Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for 243 hectres of land to the NN.
“Additionally, the headquarters Naval Logistics Command that sits on five hectres of land was also issued a duly certified C of O in favour of the NN. “Meanwhile another parcel of land that measures 78 hectres was also acquired by the NN for the purpose of an Airstrip. For this parcel of land, the Delta State Government has issued an R of O.”
The statement, therefore, wondered if the protest by indigenes of Oghara in the state on Tuesday was induced by the choice of the NN to fence the more than 200 hectres of land in phases, as the NN has not encroached on the community land and has no mandate for compensation as it remains the prerogative of the Delta State Government.”
He said the Oghara indigenes should channel their grievances, if there are any, to the appropriate quarters, as the NN authorities would work to preserve the peace of the community.
