Lament lack of farm lands…
By: Akamba Jude, CRS-MOI Officer Reporting from Min. of New Cities Development
Youths of Bebuabong community of Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State have bemoaned the state government’s plan to build a new city of 500 housing units in the Bebuabong province of Obudu LGA as they lamented the lack of lands for their farming activities.
This plight was made known to the joint team drawn by the Cross River State Governor Sen (Prof.) Ben Ayade from the Ministry of New Cities Development, Ministry of Lands and the Office of the Surveyor General of the state during the team’s visit to the Obudu Community to intimate them on the developmental plan.
The Commissioner for New Cities Development, Hon. Mike Usibe who led the Governor’s delegates on the visit adviced that, the people should see the Governor’s initiative as a good strategy to complement the ongoing Canadian Institute and Obudu Cargo airport projects geared towards creating a developmental equilibrium in the community where he the Governor also comes from.
“I’m here at the instance of His Excellency Sen (Prof.) Ben Ayade who para-venture is your own son from this Community, to give you a good news of his intended development and vision he has conceived in mind of which his first thought is to commence from Obudu where he comes from and he feels that to make his people live more comfortably and more convenient, they need more befitting housing units that will befit their status as a community that he the Governor comes from.” Hon Usibe conveyed.
The Commissioner further maintained that, the 500 housing units will not only benefit the people of Obudu, but will also improve the economy of the community and as well provide solace to the visitors that will team in when all projects have been fully actualized.
The Director for Town Planning Ministry of New Cities Development- TPL, Barr. Joseph Adie who stood on a dual capacity as the city planner and an intermediary between the people of Bebuabong and the joint team explained that, the perimeter survey has been long administered to find coordinates of a suitable location for the new city which falls between the Bebuabong axis, hence the visit to consul the community before the commencement of the 500 housing units project adding that, though Government has the right to acquire lands for developmental purposes where it pleases based on the land use act, but Governor Ben Ayade does not deem it diplomatic to impose such decision on his own community.
Speaking in a voice, the Utugwan delegates, the Paramount Ruler of Utugwan His Royal Majesty Uti S.O Agba and the Clan Head of Ukwutia His Royal Highness Uti S.O Olenye Sylvester said that, the Governor has taken a right step because charity is never complete when focuses his attention to improving other people’s well being and forgets his own root and in his words, the Clan Head of Ukwutia of Utugwan Community puts:
” If a tree bears fruits, they fall around the stem, they do not fall far except the animals pick them away, therefore, our son feels that he has a stem and a root and he has come to you as the root and the stem of his life so that we can feel of our own.”
Also present during the visit were the Secretary Land Use Allocation Committee Ministry of Lands- Mr Obase Ekaba, the Director Lands also from the Ministry of Lands Mr. S.U Bassey who represented the Hon. Commissioner for Lands Prof. John Inyang, the Special Assistant- Ministry of New Cities Development Mr Ben Aniashi and the Ogoja Zonal Surveyor Mr. Mr. Livinus Aloho Agi among others.
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