Abia Govt. to punish public school lands’ encroachers
The Abia Government says it will henceforth initiate legal action against any individual or organisations found encroaching on lands belonging to state-owned schools.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Umuahia while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
Kanu said that the committee set up by Gov. Alex Otti on the Recovery of School Lands had made remarkable progress with new discoveries.
He said the committee discovered that individuals were not the only suspects in the act.
According to him, market associations, religious organizations, and communities are also involved.
“The committee is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all those involved in taking over school lands are brought to book,” he said.
The commissioner further said that the committee was divided into three groups for effective coverage of the three senatorial districts.
“The Abia North, Central, and South Senatorial Districts committees are headed by Chaka Chukwumerije, Kingsley Agomuo, and Uche Ukeje, respectively,’’ he said.
He further warned that the government would sanction any school proprietor who resumed academic activities earlier than the September 23 resumption date announced by the government.
Kanu also announced that the state would host the forum of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers meeting scheduled for September 28.
He said that the government would continue to provide the necessary conducive environment for development activities.
He said that the JAC Building built by the present government had been inaugurated for public use.
“You can now go there and transact business with the ministries, departments, and agencies that have their offices in the building,” he said. (NAN)