Delta State Government to Protect Landed Properties Owners and Criminalize collections of Development Fees

The Delta State Government has taken a decisive step towards the protection of landed properties owners in the state in order to encourage investors and developers in different communities.

In pursuant of this, the state Executive Council has approved that a bill for a law to prohibit the forceful entry and illegal occupation of public and private landed properties be sent to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

Speaking after the state executive Council meeting held in Asaba on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, disclosed that the bill, when passed, will also prohibit violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to public and private landed properties in Delta State and for purposes connected therewith to ensure sanity and encourage investors and developers in the state.

In another development, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that the state government would soon abolish illegal collection of development levies by communities, from oil companies and property developers.

Governor Okowa made this statement today in Ugborhen, Sapele Local Government Area while addressing members of the Community at the commissioning of a 13.6 kilometres township road network, a solar power water project, two blocks of four classrooms with a Science Laboratory at Adaka Grammar School, and an ultra-modern Civic Centre in Ugborhen Community executed by Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc in partnership with the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and the Ugborhen Community Development Committee.

From right; Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; His Royal Majesty, Orhue I, CFR mni, the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya, during the Commissioning Of Ugborhen-Ultra Modern Tawn Hall and Civil Center.

The Governor said illegal collection of development levies has hampered the growth of many communities, adding that it had also increased the cost of executing projects by individuals, government and private organisations.

“This community must have given the contractors the enabling environment to carry out the projects, we will soon send a Bill to the House of Assembly to ban all forms of “deve” which has impacted negatively on the cost of projects including government and private projects. I am convinced that very soon Ugborhen will no longer be a village with the kind of projects here.” He said.

He stated that plans were in top gear by his administration to sponsor an Executive Bill to the State Assembly to give legislative backing for the abolition of these levies.

Governor Okowa commended the exemplary partnership between Seplat Petroleum Development Company and Ugborhen community and urged other oil companies to emulate the partnership stressing ” I am glad to see partnership like this between Oil prospecting companies and their host communities, the job of government will be much lighter if oil companies and communities partner in this manner to develop our communities.”

Governor Okowa advised the management of Seplat to harken to the request of the people of the community by providing employment for the youths of the area in line with the constitution.

The Governor thanked the Ugborhen Community for providing a peaceful environment for investors to thrive and called on other oil producing communities to partner with oil companies in the development of their areas.