Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
The Akwa Ibom State government says any person or group of persons involved in the illegal acquisition of land in the state with be made to face the full weight of the law.
The State Ministry of lands and Water Resources as gathered by this reporter has concluded plans to check the mancace of land grabbing in the State. The Ministry of Lands and Waters Resources has called for effective partnership between security operatives in the State and the Ministry in order to stamp out any form of illegal activities or trespass by citizens in the Government owned lands.
The Commissioner for Lands and Water, Resources, Captain Iniobong Ekong retired led management staff of the Ministry on courtesy visits on the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Andrew Amingheme in his office at the Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia and the State Director, Department of State Security, Mr. M.A. recently.
He said, the Ministry is poised to establish what he called zero tolerance for illegal acquisition of government land, stressing that such act is capable of affecting economic growth of the State. Capt. Ekong appealed to security operatives to help Government enforce the law and ensure sanity in the Lands and Water Resources in the State.
He added, “we want you to help us enforce the law. We will no longer tolerate a situation where citizens, especially, those in the rural communities would trespass or interfere with government lands”.
The Commissioner noted with delight the tremendous support the Ministry has enjoyed from security operatives during Governor Udom Emmanuel administration and sued for continued support to the state government. According to him, “this is home coming, we have come to ask you to partner with us so that we can achieve the purpose and to also continue to maintain peace in the State, this we believe, will attract foreign investors to the State fo more development.
The Commissioner for Police, Mr Andrew Amiengheme in his remarks, said the visit was timely and promised to partner the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources to curb Land and Water manance in the state.
He added, “we will do our best to tackle the crisis in the Lands and Water Resources. We will continue to work hard so that citizens will continue to enjoy peace and benefits more”. The Police boss said his men are equal to the task and assured that police will create a senergy for effective partnership with the Ministry to help achieve the needed result. He further described Police Officers as the best wise brains in the country and thanked the Ministry for the visit.
In his remarks also, the Director of Department of State Security, Mr. M. A. Kuami promised to work with the Ministry in order to fight corruption and other land and water crises in the State and also congratulated Capt Ekong on his assumption of office as the Commissioner for Lands and Waters in the State. The DSS Director further commended the Commissioner and his staff for the visit and pledged the support of his office to put a stop to the ugly trend of land acquisition.
