Delta council passes bye-law to regulate land grabbing

It is no longer business for land grabbers in Oshimili north council area of Delta as its legislative arm has finally passed a bye-law aimed at addressing the worrisome act which had hitherto led to loss of lives and wanton destruction of property within the council area.

Cited as the ‘Oshimili North Local Government Public and Private Properties Protection Bye-Law 2023′, the law is intended to prohibit forceful entry and illegal acquisition of public and private landed properties.

It is also to prohibit violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to public and private landed properties as well as regulate real estate business; among others within locality.

The passage of the law during plenary at the Senator Peter Nwaoboshi Legislative Building at the council secretariat in Akwukwu-Igbo followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Nweke Anthony, which was seconded by his Deputy Majority Leader, Emmanuel Awele Isichei.

Leader of the Legislative Arm, Adimabua Henry Ofuase who presided over the plenary, directed the clerk to forward copies of the bye-law to the chairman of the council, Mr Innocent Eseweze, for his assent.

Ofuase described the passage of the bye-law as a milestone in the history of the council, noting that it would impact positively on the council.

“This is a landmark achievement in this council, it is one of its kind, never seen before in the council. It will impact positively on the council.

“I thank the chairman for his visionary leadership, I thank the committee for a job well done, and then to my colleagues who have been very steadfast and committed to this course,” he said.

Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the bill, Bar. Stella Maris Mejulu told our correspondent that the bye-law was a product of a painstaking legislative process which started in August, this year with the first reading.

Mejulu said after the second reading, it was committed to the committee stage where public hearings were conducted to get the inputs of stakeholders within communities in the locality.

“Everybody has been eager to see the result of the assignment handed to us. The House agreed with us that we did well in involving the public through public hearings with inputs from stakeholders across the communities.

As a committee, we looked at the submissions of our people and made the necessary corrections,” she said.