Delta Govt To Demolish Illegal Structures At Asaba City Project

The Delta State government has threatened to pull down all illegal structures erected within the Asaba Waterfront City project site.

During an inspection of the project site, the director, Special Project of the Asaba Waterfront City, Hon Victor Ebonka, warned property developers and members of the public against encroachment.

Ebonka, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Lands and Surveys, explained that the entire expanse of land designated for the Asaba Waterfront City had been duly acquired by the state government, fully gazetted and that all rightful landowners had been adequately compensated.

He stressed that the land is government-owned and therefore highly coveted, expressing concern that some individuals had fallen victim to fraud perpetrated by land speculators and other unscrupulous elements who exploited the ongoing development in the area to deceive unsuspecting buyers.

According to him, prospective land buyers must always verify the status of any land by consulting the Ministry of Lands and Surveys, the Town Planning Office, and other relevant authorities before making any purchase, particularly in high-profile development zones such as the Asaba Waterfront City.

“That is why we are here today to mark illegal structures and fences for demolition. Occupants are not entitled to statutory notices because this is fully gazetted government land,” he said.

Ebonka advised affected persons to immediately seek refunds from those who sold the land to them illegally and to remove any structures or encumbrances they had placed on the site.

“Government will not hesitate to act. All illegal structures will be demolished, and those responsible will bear the full cost of the demolition,” he warned.

He added that it was in the best interest of those involved to salvage what they could, noting that bulldozers would soon move in to clear all illegal developments on the land.

The special project director disclosed that the ongoing excavation works were preparatory activities for proper land reclamation.

“In the coming weeks, there will be visible and extensive reclamation works. This marks the second phase of the project. The first phase involved the construction of access roads, payment of compensation, and securing all statutory approvals,” he explained.

He stated that the state government, under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, had fully met its obligations under the project, having secured all approvals and released the necessary funds in good time.

On the project timeline, Ebonka expressed optimism that, based on the current pace of work, the Asaba Waterfront City would be substantially delivered within the next three years.