The Imo State Government has commenced the recovery of illegally acquired government lands across the state, warning that all unauthorized structures erected on such properties will be demolished while those involved in the illegal allocation and sale of the lands will face prosecution.

The warning was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri.

According to the statement, the recovery exercise follows earlier public notices issued by the government directing individuals who unlawfully acquired government lands to vacate the affected properties.

The government identified the affected locations as Redemption Estates 1, 2, 3 and 4 belonging to the Imo Housing Corporation, Area P (New Owerri), Area T, Area K (Alaoma Layout), Paradise Layout (Ottamiri North), Ottamiri South, Naze Industrial Layout, Ogbaku Estate Layout, and other government layouts across the state.

Nwaneri said enforcement would commence immediately, stressing that fences, partitions and other unauthorized structures found on the affected lands would be demolished without further notice.

He also warned that individuals involved in forging land documents or engaging in illegal allocation and sale of government lands would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

According to him, the exercise is aimed at protecting public assets, restoring order in land administration and safeguarding the interests of law-abiding citizens.

The government said the action forms part of its constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of residents while ensuring transparency in land administration.

It advised prospective land buyers, developers and residents to verify the authenticity of land titles with the appropriate government agencies before concluding any land transaction to avoid legal complications arising from the ongoing recovery exercise.

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The Imo State Government has launched a statewide campaign to reclaim public land from unauthorized occupiers, beginning the demolition of illegally erected structures on government-reserved spaces.

Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, disclosed that investigations unearthed a troubling trend: individuals occupying public verges with forged or outdated allocation documents, particularly in areas like Aladinma Garden Estate.

According to Nwaneri, several of these occupants claim rights to land using documents that have no legal foundation. He clarified that the concerned lands including verges and buffer zones are strictly reserved for public infrastructure like drainage and road expansion,and are not to be converted for personal or commercial purposes by any agency, including the Imo State Housing Corporation.

He further emphasized that these illegal encroachments obstruct natural water channels, increase the risk of flooding, and undermine the lifespan of newly rehabilitated roads.

“The government will no longer tolerate these distortions of urban planning,” Nwaneri said. “Any structure built on public verges will be removed without warning.”

He cautioned the public against dealing with unauthorized agents claiming to sell or allocate government land, urging residents to report any suspicious activity around reserved areas to the appropriate authorities.

All occupants have been instructed to vacate immediately or face eviction and possible legal consequences.

“Government reserves are not business spaces,” he reiterated. “They are vital to the city’s drainage, safety, and development. Anyone obstructing these spaces is obstructing progress.”

The government pledged to uphold urban order and protect public infrastructure from abuse, warning that it will not hesitate to act swiftly and decisively in defense of the state’s long-term interests.

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