By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Anambra State government, Thursday, threatened to revoke and re-allocate estate properties not developed to the standard within stipulated years in Awka Capital Territory.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ACTDA, Dr Osita Onuko, who gave the warning during an enforcement exercise held in Awka, argued that many developers acquired government lands with the expectation of developing them within three years but failed to commence construction till date.
Onuko said the agency would work closely with the Anambra State Ministry of Lands to ensure that the order was enforced to the standards, revoke and recover undeveloped plots when necessary and reassign them to developers ready to build within the stipulated period.
He specifically warned the owners and developers of Awka Millennium City Estate, Agu-Awka, which according to him, has experienced delays since allocated, urging them to commence construction on their allocated lands to transform the estate into a functional and vibrant residential area.
Also speaking, the Head of Development Control Unit of ACTDA, Mr. Charles Ekwunife, described the slow pace of work at Awka Millennium City Estate as disappointing, even as she noted that the layout was actually intended to be a flagship development for Awka.
Ekwunife added that all the allocated lands were expected to be developed in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the government and Awka Millennium City Estate but failed to deliver any meaningful level of work within the first three years.
Responding, the Facility Manager of Awka Millennium City Estate, Mrs. Nwanneka Nwachukwu, assured there would be improvement as the estate management had engaged property owners through mails, meetings and sensitisation programmes to encourage speedy development.
According to Nwachukwu, the development in the estate has been slow below 20 per cent development but with ACTDA intervention, it would progress in-line with their vision of building a functional community rather than leaving the land undeveloped.