The need for members of the public to be abreast of the provisions of the newly passed Public and Private Properties Protection bye-law has been emphasized.
The Executive Chairman, Oshimili North Local Government, Hon. Innocent Esewezie, stated this during a one day seminar / workshop on Public and Private Properties Protection bye-law held on Tuesday.
The bye-law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal acquisition of public and private landed properties in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, was cited as ‘Oshimili North Local Government Public and Private Properties Protection Bye-Law 2023’.
it is also intended to prohibit violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to public and private landed properties as well as regulate real estate business; among others within the locality
Hon. Esewezie expressed gratitude to God for the grace to bring the bye-law to reality, and the platform to X-ray the fundamentals of the bye-law, it’s merits and the risks attached to flouting the new Bye-law.
He said the bye-law went through public hearing before it was passed and signed into law, noting that the workshop was to re-echo the basics of the bye-law for the teeming populace who will be the direct beneficiaries of the bye-law.
The Chairman said the recent killing of a promising young man at Ogbeowele, underscored the essence of the event, adding that as the Executive Chairman of the Council and chief security officer, who is privy to all security reports from every community, 80% of security issues he had received were directly connected to land grabbing, illegal sales and acquisition of land, hence his administration thought it wise to nip the ugly trend in the bud.
He said experts in the area of law and social orientation were assembled to educate the people on the bye-law and future benefits, the heritage bequeathed to them by their fore fathers would be sold to indigenes at exorbitant amounts by strangers who may have acquired the lands at give-away prices, if the indigenes are not properly enlightened on the provisions of the law
While saying that a lot of community engagements were carried out at the conceptualization stage of the Bye-law, Hon. Esewezie thanked the Traditional Rulers and Security Heads for their contributions, and commended the Council’s legislative house led by Hon. Adim Ofuase for keying into the initiative and passing the bill.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Godwin Edozie, harped on the need for communities to reserve lots of landmass to enable government bring in developmental facilities.
Dr. Edozie noted that if all the lands are sold, communities would no longer be in control of development in their domains.
Other speakers drawn from the legal profession and public prosecutors, including the branch Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA Asaba, Precious Ndidi Nwadimuya (Esq), pointed out that investors do not stay in a conflict environment, adding that managing crisis is expensive and hinders development.
The Traditional Rulers of Okpanam – Dr Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu, Ukala – Obi Clement Ejiofor, Ebu – Obi Paul Odilile Opili, and the Ogbelani of Illah represented by His Eminent Ogbuenyi, commended the Chairman and assured him of their commitment and support to improve the Local Government.
The event was also attended by the Leader of the House, Hon Adim Henry Ofuase and other Councillors, the Nigeria Police, DSS, President Generals of Community Union, youths, artisans amongst others.
NIM