Newly appointed Enugu Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr Chidi Aroh, on Tuesday, said that the state has restored Plot No. P/23CA Independence Layout, Enugu, which was revoked without the governor’s approval pursuant to the Land Use Act, to the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) “in line with Allocation Reference No. LEN 29329/4 of 21st January 2011”.

Controversy had trailed the recent resignation of the former Commissioner for Land and Urban Development, Dr Chukwumemeka Nnam, following what he alleged as transferring professionals working with him for doing their job.

So many groups and individuals, including the NULGE, had accused the former Commissioner of revoking and reallocated lands issued to them with valid title documents to fresh individuals without recourse to due process.

But Aroh, who was the Information Commissioner when Nnam held sway, stated in a restoration letter to NULGE, dated November 16, 2021, that the purported revocation of the said land was done without the approval of the governor pursuant to the Land Use Act.

He said that action came after the ministry carefully reviewed the protest from the NULGE and other affiliate bodies namely the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

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

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

Also in a similar development, Aroh, in a letter to HRH Igwe F.O Ugwu of Emene Nike Community, dated November 16, 2021, notified him of the state government’s cancellation and nullification of the Notice of Acquisition issued to Emene Community reference No. LEN 39902/2, covering 197.8 Hectares, shown in Survey Plan No. EN (E) 2802.

Aroh pointed out that the Ministry’s decision has the approval of the governor pursuant to the Land Use Act contained in letter reference No. GHS/56/LXIX/293 of 11th November 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 Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as required by the extant law,” the commissioner said.