All illegal structures erected within the land area designated for the Asaba Waterfront City project must be demolished, Victor Eboka, Special Project Director of Asaba Waterfront City, has warned property developers and the public.
“We are here to mark the illegal structures and fences for demolition and occupants are not entitled to statutory notices because this is fully gazetted government land,” he said.
Speaking during the inspection of the project site, on Wednesday, Ebonka, accompanied by the officials of 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 before the acquisition.
He said that the land is Government-owned and therefore highly encumbered.
“Some individuals has fallen victim to fraud perpetrated by land speculators and other unscrupulous elements who exploited the ongoing development in the area to deceive unsuspecting buyers.
“Such affected persons should 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”, he said.
According to Ebonka, 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.
He cautioned Delta Residents against encroaching on the land, warning that “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, as he informed 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.
He identified North China Construction Company and Falklands Nigeria Limited as the two major developers currently operating in the area.
“North China Construction Company controls a little over 300 hectares and is developing the Waterfront City, while Falklands holds the larger portion, which will be developed as Niger City. These are two major cities that will emerge here in the near future,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the technical capacity and readiness of the developers, noting that substantial portions of the land would be reclaimed within the next two to three months.
“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.
