A’Ibom govt to provide services in estates

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Government says it will soon provide services in its estates.

The Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Iniobong Ekong who gave the hint in a statement in Uyo on Monday, added that the measures were taken to encourage plot owners to start immediate developing their plots.

Ekong stated that the state government has aimed to achieve these by constructing internal roads, mounting electric poles within the estates, as well as fencing and water reticulation in some of the estates.

The commissioner urged plot owners to reciprocate the government’s gesture by taking advantage of the move to begin building now.

He listed the estates to include, the government residential estate, Nung Ette, the government residential estate, Iba Oku and the government residential estate, Ikot Oduot, Ibesikpo.

Others are government residential estate, Nung Oku, commercial estate, Atan Offot and Employment Centre/Light industries.

The ministry, however, warned that failure to comply with the directive of the government within six months might lead to the revocation of allocation earlier as contained in the letters of allocation.

In a related development, the ministry of lands and water resources has warned persons involved in the illegal acquisition of land to desist or risk punitive measures, as the state government was moving to check the menace of land grabbing in the state.

Ekong revealed this when he paid a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Amiengheme Andrew at the state police headquarters and the state director of the state services department.

He mentioned that the visits were part of the ministry’s mandate in ensuring zero tolerance for illegal land grabbing and other crimes related to land and water.

Stressing the importance of land to the development of any society, the commissioner underscored the essence of the visits which he said was to seek partnership with the security agencies in tackling the menace of land marauders.

Responding, the police commissioner mentioned the command was handling numerous land cases.

He commended the ministry for taking the steps to curb the ugly trend and promised the cooperation of the security agencies.