The Edo State Government has reiterated its commitment to return the disputed land to the indigenous owners of Oke Oroma community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the State, on completion of the layout process.

Commissioner for Land and Housing, Hon. Vincent Uwadia, gave the assurance when he led an inspection team to monitor progress on the land return efforts, following Governor Monday Okpebholo’s directives to expedite actions aimed at fast-tracking the layout completion processes.

While reaffirming the legitimacy of the governors’ promises, the Commissioner expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the layout work currently being carried out by the state surveyors, assuring the government’s position to stand by its decision.

Hon. Uwadia stressed the need for regular inspections to monitor progress and ensure timely completion

According to him, “we are happy with what we have seen on the ground and the work is going on well. We are very impressed. From time to time, we have to come here more regularly than we used to do so that within a short period we should be able to return the land to the people”.

Reacting to the inspection tour of the commissioner, the head of the Community, Pa Gaius I. Emokpae, praised the government’s efforts at ensuring peace, assuring the governor of the community’s continuous support.

Pa Gaius Emokpae, who was represented by Owie Festus Daniel, the Community Public Relations Officer, and Osasco Osadolor, assistant Secretary of the Community, while delivering his message, described the governor as a man of action.

Recalling the community’s previous request for the return of their ancestral land, presented to the state government, Pa Emokpae emphasized the need for the government to fulfill this request, including allocating their rightful portion of the land.

Commending the Governor on recently giving out more equipment and tractors to all LGAs, Emokpae said his community will explore reaching out to the chairman of Ikpoba-Okha with a view to soliciting his help to fast-track the layout process.

This is the third visitation of the Hon Commissioner since taking over a couple of weeks ago, which the community described as quite commendable, as Governor Monday Okpebholo’s priority is to oversee the return of the land to the indigenous owners, which he promised during his electioneering campaigns to the locality.

The Commissioner of Land and Housing, Hon. Vincent Uwadia, was accompanied during the inspection tour by the State Commissioner for Security matters, Hon Festus Ebea, alongside the Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the state governor.