Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared 30 estates in Awka, the state’s capital as illegal and advised members of the public to refrain from the premises.
In a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Lands, Mr. Edwin Ejike, none of the 30 estates got approval of the state government before development was commenced.
“Members of the public are advised to refrain from any dealings in the estates. The Ministry of Lands, in conjunction with Awka Capital Development Authority and Anambra State Physical Planning Board will take appropriate steps to enforce the relevant laws applicable to these estates. Owners of the estates are advised in their own interest to ensure that necessary approvals are obtained,” it reads.
However, some of the owners of the estates claimed that they had been given approval by the previous administrations after paying the stipulated fees to the government. One of them who claimed to have been paying the necessary taxes for the past 10 years said he wondered why the state government would take a “hash decision” against investors whose objective is to help solve the problem of housing deficit in the country.
The 30 estates affected include; 15 which are located in the city of Awka, eight in Nkwelle Ezunaka near Onitsha, four in Amansea, two in Anambra East and one in Enugwu Agidi.
