Nsukka LGA, Enugu Community Trade Blames Over Land Grabbing
Nguru community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State has accused the Chairman of the LGA, Engr Jude Asogwa, of land grabbing.
The community made their position known during a protest on Sunday. The video of the protest, which has gone viral, shows some stakeholders of the community at the Area Command of the Nigeria Police at Nsukka demanding justice. Led by a civil rights activist, Frank Agbowo, the community had claimed that the council chairman, last week, allegedly mobilised armed security operatives to invade their communal land.
According to Agbowo, “We wrote to the governor to intervene, but he is yet to intervene. Nsukka LGA chairman led some security personnel to invade the land. He had started clearing the land. The natives came out to know who was there, but they were stopped by armed security operatives. They stopped the natives from recording the event. The chairman wants to acquire the land without a formal arrangement.
“We made this video for the world to see what Nsukka people have been subjected to under the leadership of this chairman. If you want to acquire people’s land, there is a procedure. You discuss with the community. From a reliable source, the chairman, before becoming elected, had been dragging this particular land. This land is subject to litigation before a High Court. We have been subjected to intimidation. But we won’t keep quiet.”
Another stakeholder in the video stated that, “We are not in a military regime. You cannot acquire people’s land by force. The chairman mentioned in the petition that he had reached an agreement with the Nguru and Odoru community. Odoru is a satellite town. They are settlers. You don’t go to acquire land with armed security.”
Reacting, the Jude Asogwa Media Team, the spokes group of the chairman, in a release on Tuesday, captioned “Nsukka International Market: Setting the Record Straight”, described those carrying out the protest as “miscreants who are intentional on causing local unrest over the proposed Nsukka International Market”. The group claimed those protesting were a few individuals, who refused to toe the path of peace.
The team stated that the land in question was meant for the construction of an international market following the demolition of a part of Ogige Market by the state government last year. The demolished portion, THE WHISTLER gathered, was used to build an ultra-modern bus terminal.
The release continued, “Following the demolition of some sections of Ogige Market, the local government council sought to provide a suitable market, at least to compensate those who lost their livelihoods. The state Ministry of Housing initially earmarked the hectares of land in the Odoru/Ogba-Agu Agbani Nsukka/Ikwoka communities for a housing estate. However, the communities rejected this idea, suggesting the area be used for a market instead. The government reviewed their request and recognized its timely relevance.
“Nsukka, being the second-largest and most populated local government in Enugu State, is ideally suited for a standard international market. Furthermore, there was a pressing need to establish an international market as a compensatory measure for those affected by the Ogige Market demolition.”
The team stated that the government preferred the Odoru/Ogbagu-Agbani/Ikwoka location for the market due to its positioning along the Ogurugu Road.
According to the team, “Should the Ogurugu jetty be dredged to a port, an average Nsukka businessman or woman could conveniently receive goods from China or anywhere in the world at this market within hours, thereby elevating Nsukka to an international stage.”
The team explained that the state government, in collaboration with Nsukka LGA, agreed that Nsukka should have an international market. It added that the LGA followed due process in the acquisition of the land.
Quoting team, “The government directed the involved communities to select two representatives each to be part of the market development committee. These meetings focused on effectively working out a mutually agreeable compensation plan and fostering understanding. Farmers who cultivated various economic crops on the land were identified, verified and compensated. Even the smallest vegetable farmers received a minimum of ₦200,000, with payments directly deposited into their bank accounts.
“At no time did the chairman step onto these hectares of land to take the ownership. Instead, the chairman recognized people’s genuine request and acted on it to meet one of Nsukka’s biggest demands: a larger market. This market aims to compensate those who lost shops in the demolition of parts of Ogige Market, improve the council area’s IGR, and establish a standard international market befitting Nsukka’s status. All involved communities were duly carried along in this process.”
The team reminded the protesters that the Land Use Decree of 1978 “stipulates the use of land for overriding public interest”. It added that, “Defamation of character is a crime punishable under Nigerian law.”
Nsukka LGA, Enugu Community Trade Blames Over Land Grabbing is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
