The Enugu State House of Assembly has resolved the age-long land dispute between Obinagu-Obeagu Awkunanaw, Ugwuaji Awkunanaw of Enugu South local government area and Ugwuafor Akpugo and Umuedenwaoko family Akpugo in Nkanu West local government dated as far back as 1930.
In a resolution presented to the Enugu State House of Assembly on Thursday by a special committee on land dispute disclosed that the land recognised as Lakeside Layout I and II has been under contention and different efforts to have it resolved had always failed in the past.
After a robust and heated debate, the report of the Committee was accepted and the acquisition of the land in dispute by the state government was affirmed and agreed that compensation would be paid to the villages and families whose land fell within the disputed area that had lasted since 1930
Presenting the report, the chairman, of the committee, Hon. Pius Eze Ugwu, member representing Nsukka East Constituency, noted that the outcome of their work followed a very robust, inclusive and comprehensive approach as they engaged representatives from all the communities involved; the commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state; the legal unit of Enugu State House of Assembly.
Others are: Office of the Surveyor General of Enugu State; The commissioner for Lands; Private Surveyors, Legal Practitioners and Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
Hon. Ezugwu lamented that as a result of the protracted land dispute, many lives were lost as well as property but expressed joy that a lasting solution had come at last with the state government taking over the disputed land in question.
According to him, they recommended that the families and villages affected be paid 20% compensation from the state government for acquiring the land.
“Ugwuafor Autonomous, Community, Akpugo, Nkanu West L.G.A. should be compensated and the Committee hereby recommends twenty (20) percent of their land holding. That both Umunnaji Ekwe Family and Umuagba Eze Family of Ugwuafor Autonomous Commmunity whose family lands ane 705 plots and 1000 plots of Lands respectively falling into part of Ofia Agba and whose compensation the committee recommends as twenty(20) perent of their land holding ratio from Ugwuafor part.
“The Umuedenwoko family of Akpugo should also be compensated by the Government of Enugu State with the same amount of compensation (twenty (20) percent) as the Ugwuafor Autonomous, Community
“The Obinagu Obeagu Awkunanaw (a.k.a. Akegbe Awkunanaw) whose portion of land fall into the land acquired by the Enugu State Government should also be considered for compensation with the same amount of compensation (twenty (20) percent) as the Ugwuafor Autonomous, Community and the Umuedenwoko family of Akpugo.
“The agreement between the Enugu State Government and Ugwuafor Autonomous Community, Akpugo Nkanu West local government area should stand and shall be considered as final and the only working document for the acquisition by the Enugu State Government.
Surprisingly, the committee noted that “Ugwuaji Awkunanaw community has no business disputing the acquisition or contesting ownership of the land in dispute as their lands fall completely outside the lands acquired by the Government of Enugu State.
The committee, however warned that “any individual(s), corporate entities or community that attempts to contest the acquisition of the land or trespasses into the lands acquired shall be treated as a land grabber.”
Commending the committee for its diligence, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, described the task as “a delicate one,” noting that the panel took nearly two years to reach its conclusions.
“It was a delicate job, and that was why it took you over a year,” the Speaker said. “I want the chairman of the committee to liaise with the Clerk of the House to ensure that our recommendations come out clean.”
With this resolution, the Enugu State House of Assembly has effectively brought closure to one of the oldest communal land disputes in the state’s history, paving the way for lasting peace among the affected communities.
