ANSPPB Denies Involvement in Omalima Layout Demolition — Warns Against Fraudulent Use of Government Name
ANSPPB Denies Involvement in Omalima Layout Demolition
— Warns Against Fraudulent Use of Government Name
NKIRU NWAGBO
The Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB) has firmly denied any involvement in the ongoing demolition exercise at Omalima Layout, Oyi Local Government Area, emphasizing that the land in question belongs to the people of Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka and not the Anambra State Government.
In a statement issued by the Managing Director of ANSPPB, Barr. Chike F. Maduekwe, the Board expressed concern over a wave of misinformation and fraudulent claims linking it to the recent demolitions in the area.
“The management of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB) has, of recent, been inundated with inquiries over the demolition exercise going on in Omalima Layout, Oyi local government area,” the statement noted.
Maduekwe made it categorically clear that the Board is not responsible for any demolition exercise currently taking place in Omalima Layout, warning the public to beware of impostors and “mischievous individuals” dropping the Board’s name to legitimize illegal activities.
“The Anambra State Physical Planning Board is by this notice warning those using the name of the Board to carry out their activities to cease forthwith, as the full weight of the law will be brought upon them,” he warned.
The Board also clarified that neither the Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Security Matters nor the Office of the AvM (Aviation Monitoring Unit) has the legal authority to carry out demolitions or intervene in land matters. According to Maduekwe, only the Commissioner for Lands and the ANSPPB are empowered by law to handle physical planning and land development issues in the state.
“Any demolition or land-related enforcement not sanctioned by the Ministry of Lands or the ANSPPB is illegal. The governor is not aware of these unauthorized actions,” the statement emphasized.
This clarification followed reports that certain individuals and families in Onitsha were plotting to invade Trans-Nkisi Phases 2 and 3, falsely claiming ownership of government land.
In a related statement, the Ministry of Lands, Anambra State, through its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nkeiru Mokwe, Esq., reaffirmed the government’s position on the matter:
Any government land illegally purchased or built upon in Trans–Nkisi Phases 2 and 3 will not be regularized.
Compensatory plots have already been duly released to various families in Onitsha.
Neither the Ministry nor the ANSPPB is currently conducting any demolition exercise in Agric Land (New GRA), Nkwelle Ezunaka, or other private layouts within Trans–Nkisi Layout. However, any unauthorized structures on government plots in Trans–Nkisi Phases 2 and 3 will be demolished by the Board.
The Ministry further advised the general public to conduct proper searches at the Ministry of Lands before engaging in any land transactions within the listed layouts, warning that anyone purchasing government land does so at their own risk.
Residents of Oze Nkwelle Ezunaka have since called on the authorities to investigate those impersonating government agencies to carry out illegal demolitions and intimidations.
Both the ANSPPB and the Ministry of Lands reaffirmed their commitment to lawful urban development, transparent governance, and the protection of genuine landowners across Anambra State.

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