Imo State Government has ordered all the occupants of its verges to vacate with immediate effect, warning anyone against obtaining or backdating fraudulent documents to justify their occupation.
In a statement issued at the weekend by the Special Adviser to the Governor Hope Uzodimma on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, it also directed the enforcement of the “right-of-way” on the verges to protect the reconstructed roads in the state.
It warned that the Imo State Housing Corporation (ISHC) was not authorized to allocate any portion of the government verge to anyone for private use, threatening “prosecution for illegal possession and obstruction of government property.”
The statement read: “The Imo State Government has begun a sweeping evacuation of all unauthorized structures and occupants on government verges across the state, reiterating that the Imo State Housing Corporation is not authorized to allocate any portion of government verge for private use.”
The directive, according to the statement, came into effect after it was uncovered that some individuals were illegally occupying the verges with backdated documents, including a garden estate in Aladinma, Owerri metropolis.
“This decisive action comes after investigations revealed that some individuals have been illegally occupying government verges, presenting backdated and fraudulent allocation letters as purported evidence of ownership.
“Government officials have confirmed that such allocation does not have legal backing, as the verge — which is public land reserved for utility easements and road buffer — cannot be lawfully allocated for personal or commercial purposes by any agency of government, including the Imo Housing Corporation.”
The statement declared that such illegal occupations violated the land use regulations among other infractions.
It added: “The government is committed to preserving the integrity of its urban planning and infrastructure. The ongoing occupation of verges not only violates land use regulations but also obstructs the natural right of way for stormwater flow, leading to flooding and accelerated deterioration of our newly reconstructed roads.
“Any structure or development encroaching on verges is deemed illegal and will be demolished without further notice. The public is hereby warned not to patronize touts or fraudulent officials claiming to offer legitimate allocation papers for such lands.
“All individuals or businesses currently occupying government verges are hereby directed to vacate such areas immediately. Failure to comply will result in forceful eviction and possible prosecution for illegal possession and obstruction of government property.”
The state government warned that verges are not meant for private development, kiosks, or recreational businesses, stressing that the verges are critical to road safety, drainage flow, and infrastructure sustainability.
According to the Imo government, blocking these spaces is not only a violation of state policy but an assault on public interest.
It said, “The Imo State Government will continue to uphold the rule of law and urban order and will not tolerate any actions that undermine its infrastructural investment and development efforts.”
The official urged residents to report suspicious allocations or unauthorized activities on government verges to the Office of the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Compliance or the Imo State Ministry of Lands for immediate action.
