Develop Land Early Or Lose C-Of-O, Wike Warns Organisations

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has given a stern warning to organizations allocated government land to develop the property as early as possible or risk losing the Certificate of Occupancy.
He gave the warning Monday when the President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Hajiya Iya Aliya, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Governor said in a space of six months, the Rivers State Government would consider any organisation that has not developed their land to be not serious.
“I will not give land for a longer period to anybody. After six months, if nothing happens, we take it back.
“We observe that organisations come for land allocation and won’t develop it for 20 years, thereby depriving others. I will give you, and in six months, if you don’t develop it, I will take it back”, he said.
He noted the importance of private investors in the development of any economy and stressed that that was the reason Rivers State Government considers them as crucial partners.
While lauding the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA) for its contributions in the development of the state, the Governor, who noted that the State Government has a robust relationship with PHACCIMA, pointed out that the huge infrastructure and security improvement as well as harmonisation of taxation by his administration were direct strategies of ensuring ease of doing businesses in the state
Particularly, he commended the President of PHACCIMA, Chief Nabil Saleh, for the huge investment he had maintained in the state, stressing that the Rivers State Government was planning to honour him as a way of recognising his efforts.
Earlier, the NACCIMA President, Hajiya Iya Aliyu, had lauded the Governor for the huge infrastructure and security in the state, declaring the state safe for investments.
She also expressed delight at the harmonisation of taxation in the State, noting that the step has encouraged private investment.
The NACCIMA President further commended the Rivers State Government for allocating land for construction of Permanent Trade Fair Complex, and appealed to Governor Wike to provide a Certificate of Occupancy for the land.

By: Chris Oluoh