– As Umuoma Nekede expresses confidence in Mass Housing Committee members
By Kelechi Ugo.
August 29 (Newshour.com.ng) – The earlier controversies trailing the proposed 3R Housing Estate in Umuoma Nekede Autonomous Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State had been halted as the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development,Hon. Lady Love Ineh who doubles as the Chairman of Imo Mass Housing Committee and her members on Monday 28th August,2023 paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of Umuoma,HRH Eze Morrison Soronnadi James Eke(Omadike of Umuoma)
It would be recalled that the project had suffered setback following the alleged encroachment of the proposed site by the serving Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning,Hon. Noble Abiaso Atulegwu which almost inject crisis in the Community if not for the quick intervention of the Executive Governor of Imo State,His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma.
Also recall that the same landed property was duly acquired by Imo State Government and handed over to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which had since two years ago signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the host Community.
Present during the courtesy visit were the General Manager of Imo Housing Corporation,Barr. Chinedu Mbakwe-Obi,Sole Administrator of Owerri West Local Government Area,Hon. Victor Osigwe, President-General of Umuoma Nekede Autonomous Community,Hon. Chief Okechukwu Opara, former PG of Umuoma, Pastor John Ibeh, Elder Giddy Obiyor,TPM of Umuoma, Nze Chris Aharanwa,DPO of Nekede/Iheagwa Police Divisional Headquarters,CSP Stanley Osifo,Nze Ahuonye Nwaneri, Surveyor Emma Duru, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development among others.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development,Hon. Lady Love Ineh regretted that some challenges had earlier confronted the commencement of the project since after its flag-off expressing joy that the Governor has given directives that will enable her Committee to fast track the project.
Lady Ineh stated that the aim of their visit was to thank the traditional ruler and youths of Umuoma for their support and peaceful posture assuring them that their earlier signed MoU with the host Community will not be tampered.
She insisted that Ministry of Lands has no right to issue Certificate of Occupancy. Hear her,”It’s only the State Governor has right to issue Certificate of Occupancy. And we are working for one government. I am now serving in dual capacity as the Commissioner and Chairman of Imo State Mass Housing Committee. While the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning is a member of the Committee. Many challenges have come and gone. Every allocation paper emanated from my Ministry remains valid. And my Committee will come up with what is expected of us by the Governor.
This project will soon kick-off. And the Governor will be presence during the ground breaking ceremony”.
Responding, the traditional ruler of Umuoma Nekede Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Morrison Soronnadi James Eke expressed confidence in the Committee pledging total support of his Community members. “The Committee members were carefully selected by the Governor, and I am optimistic that they are going to deliver. The MoU was signed two years ago which we expected the project to be completed by now,but it is unfortunate that they are few of our people who tried to fail us, but God did not allow such to happen. I am happy that we now having an upright PG in the name of Hon. Okechukwu Opara who has capacity of working with me to galvanize support of our people in order to move our Community forward. Infact, Nekede Ancient Kingdom just conferred him Chieftaincy title, Dike-ri-oha Nma because of his antecedents. So,we have confidence in Lady Love Ineh led Committee”, the royal father stated.
In his vote of thanks, the President General of Umuoma Nekede Autonomous Community, Hon. Okechukwu Opara, thanked the Committee members for their timely visit promising that they are ready to give them their total support so as to make the project a reality.
He seized the opportunity to call on the State Government to come to rescue of their people by making frantic effort to fix gully erosion which has cut-off Umuezeokam village in Nekede.
