Imo Govt moves against developers operating without approval
The Imo State Government has activated a mechanism to go after developers acquiring lands and erecting structures without approval.
The move became necessary following a series of reports from members of the public about individuals and corporate bodies encroaching on people’s land using the name of the state government.
In response to the development, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Imo State Geographic Information Service, IGIS, Chukwunyere Amaechi, has issued a press release informing members of the public to demand copies of the approved private layout plan issued to developers by the relevant authorities or alert the body through its customer service number, 0809816381.
The IGIS DG stated: “It has come to our attention that several organisations and companies are currently partitioning, consolidating and selling plots of land located within estates in the above-stated areas.
“We wish to inform developers, investors in the built environment, and the general public that we have not issued any private layout planning approval to any organisation or registered any estate development scheme in line with our extant laws in the following areas: Ngor Okpala/Airport Road axis; Obinze/Army Barracks/Umuokanne/Oforola axis; Mgbirichi/Umuapu axis.”
Amaechi pointed out that there is a guideline for the issuance of private layouts in the state, maintaining that any estate development scheme that fails to comply with the requirement as dictated by law is acting improperly and putting investors and the general public at risk.
Amaechi further stated that anyone who buys or transacts land without verification from the body is doing so at his or her own risk.
She also reaffirmed that the agency is committed to ensuring that due process is adhered to at all times and that developers and businesses involved in property development operate with due regard to state planning laws and applicable neighbourhood or unitary development plans.
The IGIS DG further informed that planning officers will be visiting the locations to enforce compliance.
