NEWS
Alesa: Move Begins in Rivers to Kick out Land Grabbing, Fraud
By David, Torough Abuja
Land grabbing and fraudulent sale of lands may suffer a setback in Rivers State as government-approved but community-based land development authority has been set up in Alesa, the host community to the Port Harcourt Refineries.
Some top real estate developers including the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, have voiced support for the emergence of a land committee in Alesa, calling on other communities to emulate Alesa so that sanity can return to land transactions.
The land development committee system may provide solution as Rivers State begins experimenting the community-based control system.
The experiment saw the light of day in Alesa Eleme where the Alesa Land Development Commiittee (ALDEC) was inaugurated Friday, December 5, 2025 by the paramount ruler of Alesa, Emperor JD Mkpe.
Rivers State has been gripped by the vicious hold of land grabbers who have moved with armed hoodlums backed by security agencies to crush opponents and take over lands or even built up spaces.
The Alesa community, hub of many federal and state projects are located, has floated the recommended formula with the strong support of Emperor JD Mkpe, their paramount ruler, said to be a respected leader known for his commitment to peace, education, community development, and support for law enforcement, often advocating for better infrastructure and governance in his area.
Inaugurating the committee headed by Mr Emmanuel Olaka, businessmen and strong pillar in Alesa, the paramount ruler condemned sharp practices in land sales in the state with Alesa as an example.
Mkpe’s eye-opener:
The paramount ruler said: “Alesa is one of the 10 communities in Eleme and we are the first community in Nigeria that has refineries. The Port Harcourt Refinery (1&2) that has a lot of pipelines surrounding us. We have done a lot of contribution in making sure Nigeria stands great among all nations.
“We are made up of about 13 communities due to expansion. When I say 13 communities, Alesa is a community that has embraced other people. You can see here some people from the northern community. All the communities are here. That is why Alesa is known as a cosmopolitan community.”
Today, he stated, “Because we have got a lot of information about sale of land, and because we now have a situation whereby other persons will go into another person’s land and sell without the owner’s notice. We have also got information about minors who are not qualified to sell landed property, now selling land without letting their elders know.”
We rise against bad land practices:
He said bad land practices have created a lot of problems in their community. “And that is why today, we are going to inaugurate a land development committee whose duty is to see into all these issues and bring up report about them. This will make both buyers and sellers feel very free in Alesa.
“We seize this opportunity to warn thus: if you sell any land to anybody without this committee’s knowledge or consent, you are doing it at your own risk. If you are buying any land from Alesa, this committee will know. By this, we will track those selling the land to you so that you don’t buy land from a wrong person. We also do not want you to buy land from an under-aged persons (children) who will sell land and run away.”
Investment and image crisis:
Alesa is regarded as the preferred investment zone of Rivers State and Port harcourt. Its image just that of Onne is sensitive. The paramount ruler thus said: “We do not want anyone to drag the name of this commodity to the mud. By what we have now done, Alesa has emerged as a place where you can come and invest. Our hands and doors are open. Let no one deceive you because your hard earned money must be protected.
“We are also seizing this opportunity to encourage investors and businesses to feel free to come and invest in Alesa. We have many investors already showing interest and some are already here, who are interested in investing here. We will not allow them to invest their money where it will be wasted. To those buying lands without due diligence, we advise them to please henceforth desist from buying land from anyone.
“The question of cutting corners to buy lands is totally canceled in this community because we want to protect investors’ funds. This is because some of the investors borrowed huge sums but at the end, the land they bought is a one.”
He said they are also partnering with the Rivers State government on the project because those who buy land in Alesa with due process would be backed all the way to acquisition of certificate of occupancy (CofO).
“We are duly registered and we hereby show the world our certificate of registration and recognition. This is not a shabby arrangement. We have the registration and the authority which we have here as a body approved by the government to go into this development. This also is the registered constitution of the body.
“We are also integrating our tradition so that if you deviate from what you are asked to do, you are the one that will bear the consequences. There is no body that is as old as what (staff) I am holding in my hand here. So, every child, woman, or man who will go to steal someone’s land to sell, if you are caught, you will be dealt with. We will hand you over to the government. We will also make sure that whatever land you buy here, will be registered with the government of Rivers State through the office of the Surveyor-General and the Ministry of Land and that of Housing. This is to permanently stop land grabbers.
Land grabbers beware:
Those wishing to go to Alesa as land grabbers, the paramount ruler issued stern warning. “Please do not come near this commodity because if we catch you, we will show you the way out.
“So that is the reason we are here today so that anybody who is buying land here should come and identify with us so your money can be safe.
“Thirdly, we will not want anyone to sell land again. We know the designated areas for government. Anyone that dares go close to the government land is doing so on his own. And that is the reason why this body is also standing gallantly and strongly to protect government lands and other forms of property. They will help to identify areas belonging to the government.”
Develop your land or forfeit it:
He made another important announcement. He called investors to buy and develop immediately. “We want you to buy and develop, not to keep for decades. Failure to develop your land after five years, the land will be forfeited to the government of Rivers State as a ‘waste land’ that you do not want to develop. So we are here not to maltreat any individual, we are not here to punish anyone, but to make sure your money is safe.”
The king said they have been receiving reports. “We have lands that people bought when nobody here today was born. Today, those landowners are having problems. If they had bought those lands through this office that period of time, maybe their money and land would be protected. Any land that is bought here, we have your drawing and plan in the office so that even if you are no more, your land will be protected for your children. By this arrangement in place now, nobody will go back to sell your land in your absence.
Equity for the aboriginals:
The host communities of Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals have become about the first host community in Nigeria to be equity holders to a project in their community. The next is the Housing and Construction Mayor Limited which has given the aboriginal land owners 10% equity through corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment. Now, the community has ruled that the Mayor formula should now be the rule.
The king declared: “Also, you are not buying any land in perpetuity. There must be a percentage set aside for the children and grandchildren of the aboriginal land owner so they can meet and enjoy the dividends of their father’s labour. That is what we want to do so that everyone who has given out his plot of land in Alesa will be happy. The documentation of the land will accommodate the families of the buyer in the event of his demise, and the children of the seller, all this will be in the archive.”
He informed that the land committee has a good office where every vital piece of information is stored. “We are optimistic that this strategy will work for us all. One of the greatest persons who has been able to identify with us is the Mayor of Housing. He has been friendly to us and to our aspirations. One of two others have been supportive, but we would want them to come closer.”
Stop de-marketing Alesa – Emmanuel Olaka:
Speaking immediately after the inauguration, Olaka, the new chairman, vowed never to betray Alesa. “I hereby pledge never to betray this community or the palace. This is my hometown.
“Let me stand to say this afternoon, I want to really express my profound gratitude to God Almighty, who has made today possible for us to gather here, for this land development committee.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Alesa council of chiefs, the women, the youths, for nominating me to be the chairman of the Alesa Land Development Committee. I want to say this afternoon that I, Emmanuel Olaka, a bonafide son of Alaka, from Uwueke community, I will never disrespect this committee. I will always do what is right, so that my God will always stand by me. I will not be biased.”
He stated that the committee is not to make anybody fall but to make Alesa great. “This committee was formed because of the activities that are going on in our land. Some persons and some investors were trying to de-market Alesa, which is not acceptable. We will not accept that when there is no dispute, you go about telling people that there was dispute. What you are trying to do is to de-market Alesa.
“So the essence of this committee is to make sure that Alesa develops faster. Those coming to invest will not have any trouble. You will be unhurt. That is why the council of chiefs deemed it necessary to form this committee.
“We are going to work in harmony with the Alesa council of chiefs. We are not working for ourselves, but for the interest of Alesa, to make things go properly. We are not coming to do anything negative to the development of the community. We will always support investors to do what is right.”
Support galore:
The event witnessed huge turnout of the community, and various community leaders voiced strong support to the scheme. A youth, Director Osarokote Benson, who said he is the Scholar President, agreed that the scheme was very necessary.
A woman leader, Blessing Wuwu, a former councilor Humphrey Dada Obele, and Okenwii, a paramount ruler, all spoke in support of the land development committee initiative.
In his response, My-ACE China, the Mayor of Housing, who is behind the fast-approaching development in the area, the Alesa Sustainable Green Smart City, commended the community for leading the way and the war against land grabbing and land fraud. He said the development would augur well for the green city being initiated in the area and other projects coming to Alesa.
He urged other communities in Rivers State and beyond to move fast and inaugurate such committees to bring an end to land grabbing.
Leader of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, has advised the people of Lagos State not to allow a repeat of what played out in the 2023 election in the state in the 2027 presidential election.
He called on the people to take advantage of the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to enable them vote massively for one of their own, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, who was represented by Kestin Pondi, gave the charge in Lagos, on Tuesday, during a campaign rally for Tinubu’s reelection, during which he also presented 57 campaign vehicles to state coordinators.
“What happened in 2023 must not repeat. He must win convincingly in 2027,” he said.
He described Tinubu as a selfless and courageous leader who did not care about his reelection but went on carrying out bold reforms that are already yielding results and which many Nigerians are benefitting from.
Ekpemupolo pointed out that, the fact that Lagos is today referred to as a city for all Nigerians is all thanks to the foundation laid by President Tinubu, which successive governors have built on, and now that he has a higher responsibility, there was the need for his own people to stand solidly behind him.
“Lagos is the city for all Nigerians because someone stood firm to restructure and reform it. “From the time he came into office in 1999 up to 2007 that he left, Lagos was the envy of other states.
“Today, he has a higher responsibility, an opportunity to replicate the Lagos success story in Nigeria through reforms. There is massive development across the states today because reforms are working,” he stated.
Ekpemupolo said to ensure that the reforms continue, the people of Lagos and all Nigerians must take the message to every door and everyone that Tinubu is the man for Nigeria.
Also speaking, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pointed out that Nigeria was attaining economic stability under the Tinubu-led administration.
He advised the people to ignore the antics of opposition politicians who have no plan for Nigeria, but only desperate to win elections and have been moving from one party to another, demonstrating a lack of consistency, which he emphasised was bad quality for any leader.
Sanwo-Olu said Tinubu has constructed more roads than previous administrations in three years, given succour to students, increased minimum wage and made money available for payment of pensions.
“Why won’t we vote for him? The entire Lagos is for Tinubu. All our votes are for Tinubu. You’ve done it before, you’ll do it again. “We will touch every corner of Lagos with our message to reelect Tinubu. Go out and convince everyone that Tinubu is the candidate to vote,” the governor stated.
Earlier, National Coordinator of the movement, Sunday Asuku, urged the people of Lagos to go out and get their PVCs to enable them vote massively for Tinubu.
“We must stand our ground and deliver Tinubu with PVCs, not with guns or intimidation. Lagos must not put their son, Tinubu, to shame,” he stated.
He said in the 2027 presidential election, Nigerians must make a bold statement to retire “serial contesters” who he described as “enemies of Nigeria.”
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa Starlets Academy will like to strengthen their campaign in the ongoing N-Youth League when they take on FC Prague Nigeria of Abia State today Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 a.
m.The encounter promises to be an exciting contest as both sides seek to make a strong statement in the competition.
The Yenagoa-based academy, which is affiliated to Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona, will be eager to showcase their growing quality, tactical discipline and attacking strength against a determined FC Prague Nigeria side.
Bayelsa Starlets Academy have continued to nurture young football talents through structured training and competitive football, providing promising players with a platform to showcase their abilities and pursue greater opportunities in the game.
The fixture is expected to test the Starlets’ organisation, creativity in midfield and efficiency in front of goal as they seek to impose their style of play on their opponents.
Having emerged as champions of the Nationwide League One (NLO) U-19 Youth League, Bayelsa Starlets will be keen to build on that achievement and maintain their impressive development trajectory.
For the academy, the encounter represents yet another opportunity to strengthen team cohesion, gain valuable competitive experience and demonstrate the progress made under its development programme.
The outcome could prove significant to both teams’ ambitions as the N-Youth League continues to provide a platform for the development and exposure of emerging football talents.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Bayelsa Starlets Academy Head Coach, Gomo Onduku, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the challenge, noting that the players have continued to improve as preparations progressed.
Onduku added that the team has worked hard in preparation for the encounter and was determined to secure victory against FC Prague Nigeria.
Similarly, Bayelsa Starlets midfielder, Tengi Ibuama, said the team would approach the fixture with the seriousness of a cup final, stressing that their priority was to win every match in the zone.
The Starlets will now look to translate their preparations into a strong performance on home soil as they seek to maintain their positive momentum in the N-Youth League.
By Raphael Atuu, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has advocated for stronger land, mortgage and institutional systems to accelerate inclusive housing delivery across Nigeria.
This is the key message at the ongoing 15th meeting of the National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development (NCLHUD), holding in Sokoto, October 12th – 16th, 2026
Under the theme: “Strengthening Mortgage, Land and Institutional Systems for Accelerated and Inclusive Housing Delivery.
”, the meeting is a gathering of stakeholders in the built environment from both Federal and States, including professional and regulatory bodies in the housing sector.In his remarks, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry,. Mukhtar Iliyasu Umar, noted that the Council provides an important platform for stakeholders to examine challenges in the housing sector and develop practical solutions to improve housing delivery nationwide.
He stated that the meeting is convening a three-stage deliberation process for the consideration, harmonisation and adoption of policy recommendations aimed at addressing critical challenges in Nigeria’s housing and urban development sector.
He emphasised the importance of each stage of the deliberations, noting that the quality of the final decisions would depend largely on the depth of technical analysis, the quality of recommendations and the effectiveness of the harmonisation process.
Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Country Planning, Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, said the theme was strategically chosen to ensure that housing policies are designed to promote access to decent and affordable housing for every citizen.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at over 14.5 million units, noting that approximately 50.6 million people live in unsafe housing conditions. Describing the situation as worrisome, Dantsoho called for urgent and sustained interventions to address the country’s housing challenges.
Accordingly, the Commissioner advocated a reduction in mortgage interest rates from the current double-digit levels to single-digit rates, as well as an extension of mortgage repayment periods from 25 to 35 years, saying that the measures would make mortgage repayments more affordable and improve access to homeownership for Nigerians.
He also called for the expansion of mortgage financing beyond the formal public and private sectors to accommodate Nigerians in the informal sector, particularly traders, farmers, and other self-employed individuals who constitute a significant proportion of the population but are often excluded from existing housing finance policies.
Bar Dantsoho further urged financial institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to provide adequate funding and introduce flexible repayment arrangements tailored to the income patterns of different categories of borrowers.
He emphasised the importance of digitising land administration systems across the states to enhance efficiency, promote transparency, and facilitate access to land for housing development.
On his part, the permanent Secretary, Sokoto state ministry of lands and housing, Engr. Ahmad Moyi Tambuwal highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to improve land administration, including the digitisation of land records, reduction in the time required to process Certificates of Occupancy and the provision of land for mass housing projects under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.
He noted that “the delivery of adequate and affordable housing requires more than the construction of houses. It also depends on efficient land administration, accessible mortgage finance, effective policies and stronger collaboration among government institutions and private-sector stakeholders”
NCLHUD is a forum for participants to share experiences, harmonise policies, identify institutional gaps and develop practical recommendations that would improve land administration, expand access to housing finance and accelerate housing delivery across the country.
Participants at the meeting were encouraged to develop recommendations that address pressing challenges in land administration, housing finance, institutional coordination and sustainable urban development across the country.
The reports and recommendations from the technical sessions will be harmonised for consideration at subsequent stages of the Council meeting.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the housing sector and promoting accessible, affordable and inclusive housing for Nigerians. It expressed confidence that the collective contributions of participants would provide a sound foundation for meaningful deliberations and effective decisions by the Council.
Tinubu’s Re-election: Don’t Allow Repeat of 2023, Tompolo Tells Lagos
ShareLeader of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, has advised the people of Lagos State not to allow a repeat...
Bayelsa Starlets Academy Set for FC Prague Test
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Bayelsa Starlets Academy will like to strengthen their campaign in the ongoing N-Youth League when they...
FG Strengthens Mortgage, Land Systems for Affordable Housing
ShareBy Raphael Atuu, Abuja The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has advocated for stronger land, mortgage and institutional...
Osun Signs MoU with Companies to Boost Industrialization
ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo The Osun State Government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke has signed two separate Memoranda...
Abuja Motorists Decry Continuous Increase in Petrol Price
ShareSome motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised concerns over the continuous increase in the price of Premium...
CBN Maintains Deadline for Local Data Storage
ShareThe Central Bank of Nigeria has ruled out an extension of the 1 January 2027, deadline for financial institutions to...
FG, Norway Partner on Satellite Surveillance to Combat Illegal Fishing
ShareThe Federal Government has assured Norway of Nigeria’s participation in the Blue Justice Initiative to strengthen satellite surveillance of its...
Niger Delta Deserves More than 13 Per Cent Derivation, Says Obasanjo
ShareFrom Mike Tayese, Yenagoa Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, advocated an increase in the 13 per...
PDP Lawyers Give INEC Three-day Ultimatum to Publish Pantami’s Name
ShareLawyers to the Peoples Democratic Party and its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim, have given the Independent...
FG Urges Defence Correspondents to Project Nigeria Positively
SharePermanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Dr. Ibrahim Kana, has urged...