…Asset Recovery Department, Lands Ministry Intensify Battle Against Illegal Occupants of Public Property
The Cross River State Government, through the Department of Asset Management and Recovery and the Ministry of Lands, has ramped up efforts to reclaim illegally occupied public assets, issuing a stern warning to encroachers to vacate or face legal action NEGROIDHAVEN can say.
The two government bodies, working in close collaboration, carried out an inspection on Monday at Government College (formerly Teachers’ Training College), Ikot Ansa, Calabar Municipality, where they discovered extensive encroachment on state-owned land.
Leading the enforcement team were Barr. Gilbert Agbor, Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, and Chief Francis Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Lands. Also present were senior government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, ESV Gold Okpo Ita, and the Director of Lands, ESV Kekpam Ene.
During the visit, Barr. Agbor expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of illegal land occupation, warning that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration is fully committed to reclaiming all public assets wrongfully acquired by individuals or groups.
He also cautioned government officials against colluding with community leaders and private interests to sell or illegally transfer public land, emphasizing that such acts would not be tolerated.
Commending the Ministry of Lands for initiating the demolition of an illegally erected perimeter fence on the disputed land, Barr. Agbor reiterated the government’s firm stance on enforcing land ownership laws.
“No matter how long illegal occupants hold onto public land, the government will always reclaim what rightfully belongs to the people,” he asserted.
The Asset Recovery Team urged the Ministry of Lands, the Surveyor General’s Office, the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), and other relevant agencies to provide intelligence on additional cases of land encroachment for immediate action.
Speaking on behalf of his ministry, Commissioner for Lands, Chief Francis Ekpenyong, reaffirmed the government’s determination to restore public lands to their intended purposes.
He vowed to provide the necessary documentation and intelligence to facilitate the recovery process, warning that illegal land transactions orchestrated by community members would be nullified.
“Any land unlawfully sold or occupied remains the property of the government, and we will not relent in our efforts to reclaim such assets,” Chief Ekpenyong stated.
The government’s crackdown has been met with widespread support. A concerned Ikot Ansa community member, speaking anonymously, applauded the move and called on the administration to follow through with restoring the land for educational use.
“I hope the government will fully reclaim this land and develop it for the benefit of students and the community,” the resident said.
With the Department of Asset Management and Recovery and the Ministry of Lands working hand in hand, the Cross River State Government is strengthening its fight against illegal land occupation.
The administration has made it clear: all public assets must serve their intended purposes, and encroachers will no longer be allowed to seize government property with impunity.
