CALABAR, Nigeria — Cross River State authorities, led by Governor Bassey Otu, are determined to recover government properties that have been illegally acquired by individuals and organizations, including former government officials.
The administration began its campaign to reclaim properties by focusing on aides of the immediate past governor, Prof Ben Ayade.
On July 1, 2023, the state government formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the ownership and legality of transactions involving state-owned industries and properties.
The committee was tasked with unraveling the dealings surrounding state assets, including lands and buildings.
Emmanuel Ironbar, the Chief of Staff to Governor Otu, emphasized the gravity of the situation on Monday, July 3, 2023, as he conducted an inspection of government-owned properties within Calabar, the state capital.
The committee’s report, dated June 19, 2023, highlighted instances where lands allocated for public purposes, such as the state water board, were allegedly seized and utilized for personal gains by former government officials.
The report stated, “The land acquired for Water Board was for overriding public purposes only and was gazetted. There’s no evidence of any other gazette which published any reassignment of any portions of the Water Board land to any person whatsoever. It is therefore our strong submission that the property standing on the land belongs to the state government.”
Properties said to be embroiled in controversy include British Canadian University, Ogoja Rice Mill, Garment Factory, Obudu German Hospital, Ikom Chocolate Factory, Transcorps Hotel, and Calachika Chicken Factory.
Mr. Ironbar said, “Normally at the expiration of one tenure, it is expected that public officials who served in that administration should leave and allow those in the new administration to take over and use the facilities allocated to them for the period of time they will serve in the new government.”
He added, “But what I have gone around to see is very pathetic that government properties have been sold out, it is not right because if other administrations before now had done the same, then successive governments would not have had any property to inherit.”
Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, a former aide to President Buhari, praised the work of the committee as “patriotic and courageous,” and urged Governor Otu to take decisive action against those involved in the illegal acquisition of public properties.
On the other hand, Akiba Effiom Cobham, one of the personal assistants to former governor Ben Ayade on infrastructure, accused the current administration of engaging in a witch-hunt.
He contended that many former officials went through proper government procedures to acquire their properties, and warned the current government to proceed cautiously.
As the campaign to recover government properties gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the Cross River State government will navigate the legal and political hurdles involved in reclaiming assets and bringing alleged culprits to justice.
