Asset Recovery Department, Lands Ministry Unite to Reclaim Public Property
By Kingsley Agim
The Cross River State Government, through the Department of Asset Management and Recovery and the Ministry of Lands, has launched a decisive crackdown on illegal occupants of public property, warning them to vacate or face legal consequences.
The warning was issued on Monday during an on-the-spot assessment of encroached land at Government College (formerly Teachers’ Training College), Ikot Ansa, Calabar Municipality. Leading the team were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, and the Commissioner for Lands, Chief Francis Ekpenyong. Also present were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, ESV Gold Okpo Ita, the Director of Lands, ESV Kekpam Ene, and other key government officials.
The inspection uncovered extensive encroachment on the school’s land, raising concerns over the widespread disregard for public property laws.
Barr. Agbor condemned the increasing impunity surrounding illegal land occupation, reaffirming Governor Bassey Otu’s administration’s unwavering commitment to reclaiming all unlawfully acquired state assets. He also issued a stern warning to government officials against colluding with community leaders and private individuals to illegally appropriate public land.
Commending the Commissioner for Lands for ordering the demolition of an illegally erected perimeter fence on the disputed land, Barr. Agbor emphasized the administration’s zero-tolerance stance on land encroachment.
“No matter how long illegal occupants hold onto public land, the government will always reclaim what rightfully belongs to the people,” he declared.
The Asset Recovery Team further urged stakeholders within the Ministry of Lands, the Surveyor General’s Office, the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), and other relevant agencies to provide intelligence on government lands that have been wrongfully acquired by individuals or entities.
In response, Commissioner for Lands, Chief Francis Ekpenyong, assured full cooperation, pledging to provide the necessary documentation and intelligence to facilitate the repossession of all encroached public assets.
He also denounced the illegal sale of government-owned land by certain community members, warning that such fraudulent transactions would not stand.
The government’s intensified efforts to reclaim public property have received widespread public support. A concerned Ikot Ansa community member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, called on the administration to remain resolute in reclaiming the school land and ensuring its proper development.
“I look forward to seeing the government reclaim this land and develop it for effective teaching and learning in the college,” he stated.
The Cross River State Government’s crackdown on illegal land occupation underscores its firm resolve to restore and safeguard public assets for the collective benefit of its citizens. As enforcement actions continue, the administration remains steadfast in ensuring that public property serves its intended purpose—enhancing education, infrastructure, and overall development in the state.
