ENUGU – The Enugu State Government says plans are under way to clear all urban slums in Enugu city by the end of 2026.
The State Commissioner for Housing, Dr Martin Chukwunweike, disclosed this when he met with leaders of Agu-Owa community ahead of the relocation process of the residents at Government House Enugu, on Thursday.
Reports that the Enugu State Government is relocating Agu-Owa community, a slum in the Trans-Ekulu area of Enugu.
Chukwunweike said that the relocation was part of the government’s big plans to clear all slums in Enugu city by the end of 2026.
He said that the eye-marking of property owners at the community would begin on Friday.
He said that a two-week deadline set for the submission of title documents to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government would commence on April 28.
The commissioner, however, said that simply submitting property documents would not be enough for the verification.
“Each property owner will stand with the document in the said property for eye-marking.
“The verification process will go beyond submitting property documents. We want to do physical verification and eye-marking.
“You stand before the property, and we ascertain the property, the size, and the document you have.
“With the Certificate of Occupancy, the government will decide on the property that will stay or go,” Chukwunweike said.
He noted that Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu state, had planned that there would be no slums in the city by 2026.
“That is why this exercise is important. The governor said we will help those who have issues with the title because if you do not have a valid title document, you cannot be entitled to relocation.
“The relocation process will also be at no cost,” the commissioner said.
In his remarks, Dr Ikechukwu Nebo, a stakeholder from Agu-Owa community, thanked the commissioner for the way things were being resolved so far.
He affirmed that the governor meant well for the people and the state.
“Gov. Peter Mbah promised to carry the people of Agu-Owa along in what they are doing, and that has been the case.
“I thank the commissioner for the way and manner this meeting has resolved the issue of old and new. Everybody is happy,” he said.
Speaking, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ozoaka, a resident of the community, said she would support all government efforts to see that Agu-Owa was developed.
She, however, urged the state government to have a human face while embarking on the relocation or resettlement process.
“If the government has an intention to redevelop Agu-Owa, it is a good path and a laudable idea.
“But when the government wants to start the process, they should wear the emblem of humanity and human face;” she appealed.
The Commissioner for Lands, Mr Chimaobi Okorie, stressed the importance of the verification.
He assured the people that it was about openness, taking inventory to know who truly owned a property, and verifying property owned by inheritance and others.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters and Inter-Ministerial Relations, Juliet Okonkwo, assured the community stakeholders that all that government was doing was in their best interest and that of the state.
“Since May 29, 2023 when Mbah was sworn in as the governor, all he has been doing is to make Enugu better, both in the rural and urban areas.
“Someone asked why it is only Agu-Owa that was singled out. But that is not the case. There are about 25 sites and slum areas that will be cleared.
“We may have started with Agu-Owa, but we will get to the other 24 sites. It is for the best interest of these 25 areas,” Okonkwo said. (NAN)
