Otu Inaugurates  Task Force On Recovery of Government Houses 

Judex OKORO 

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has inaugurated a nineteen man task force to recover government- owned houses. 

Inaugurating the task force, Otu, represented by Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Beatrice Igwe, gave the task force a 13 point terms of reference.

These includes occupation, investigation, property verification, eviction, recovery, property management, legal action and enforcement.

The Governor also mandated the committee to mediate in conflicts and disputes related to government house recovery and seek amicable resolutions where possible.

Speaking after inauguration, the chairman of the committee, Prince Ekanem Ekpo, said: "The Governor is very serious about the recovery and this underscores why he made his special adviser head the task force.

"A lot of houses were carted away and we cannot pretend about it.

"The governor is very serious about this task force and this is why he made one of his special advisers to be chairman of the task force, it  has never happened before.

"We all know that things were carted away from the state, we know that government houses were taken without due process, we all know and cannot pretend over it.

"From the date of the announcement of the task force, I've had several calls from people who want to identity houses that were grabbed.

"As government leaves, they take away all that belongs to the state, so we want to put a stop to it so the next administration will also do the proper thing", he stated.

Other members of the task force are Engr. Eyo Ibam, Mark Idrah, Oklebe Odey, Ubi Ubangha, Zion Ndifon, Isek Egbara, Otu Etim, Engr Odey Joseph, Ekpenyong Okon, Obong Atang, Gideon Mathew, Emmanuel Ekinke, Feddy Alfred and David Nsemo.

Sadik Idris will serve as Legal Adviser while Ihieje Isaac will serve as secretary.

Atim Raphael and Solomon Paul will represent the ministry in the task force.