By Dennis Agbo

THE Umunonu-Umuezeani kindred of Ugwogo community in Enugu East Council Area of Enugu State has commenced sanitization of its land administration system ahead of being made a part of the expanded new Enugu capital city.

Rising from the village’s General Assembly meeting in its traditional town hall square last Saturday, the community asked everyone who bought land from them to come and regularize the documents with the present community leadership led by Hon. Donatus Agbodo to forestall future encumbrances.  

The community said it does not want to be drawn into land ownership crises that have bedeviled neighbouring communities and created obstacles for real estate development in the Coal City.

The spokesman of the community Elders, Chief Emmanuel Edeonu said the community placed trust in the Agbodo-led leadership to execute the community resolve to drive Ugwogo community into playing a leading role in the development of the modern-day Enugu mega city initiative of the present state government, hence they opted to sanitize its land administration process.

The traditional head of Umunonu-Umuezeani, Chief Joseph Agbo Ugwumba said that the community developed an industrial layout in Ugwogo in 2014 to attract investors for the development of the community and urged those who invested in the layout to come up with their titles for verification and ratification before the expected explosion of developmental strides in the community.

“Those who invested their money in the industrial layout should bring their documents, original and photocopy, to our Peace and Development Committee headed by Hon. Donatus Agbodo for scrutiny so that people who have genuinely invested in that land will not lose their title documents. The committee is entrusted with the power of attorney and has legitimate powers derived from the constitution of Umunonu-Umuezeani Ugwogo community. We are not in litigation with anybody and all genuine investors are welcome to our community,” Ugwumba said.

Chairman of the Peace and Development Committee, Hon. Agbodo said what the community was doing was for posterity, to avert people complaining about losing their investments in the future, stating that “we are open to investors, they should come because we are very peaceful and we have made a law that no land shall be sold twice. We have taken this decision because we don’t want to have problems in the development of Ugwogo community as it takes off.”

The community’s Woman leader, Mrs. Theresa Edeonu at the general assembly said that the women of the community were in support of the decision of the community for peace and development of the community. Also, the Youth leader, Chiedozie Eko said the youths of the community are in support of the initiatives of their elders and leaders.

The Legal adviser to the community, Barrister Chukwuemeka Agbo explained that the essence of the general assembly was for the public to know the true picture of the community land administration.

“We want the public to comply with our humble request by coming to our town hall every Monday by 10 am for this verification by the committee. Verified and legible property owners should develop their properties while we discountenance contrary announcements against the committee”.