Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has warned land speculators to stay away from the 6,000 hectares acquired by the government for the new Yenagoa City.
He warned landlords, who had forfeited their rights to the ownership of the land, to steer clear.
The governor spoke yesterday while performing the groundbreaking for the new commissioner’s quarters as part of activities to mark the second anniversary of his administration.
He initiated the project under the supervision of the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Esau Andrew.
The governor was reacting to an appeal by the landlords of the site comprising Amarata, Fangbe, Tombia, Onopa and Yenizue-Gene communities not to forget the families in terms of employment and contracts.
He said: “I thank the families who are well represented here for cooperating with the government and for giving up their right of ownership of this land to the state government for the development of Bayelsa State and Yenagoa metropolis.
“It follows that this land is no longer your community. The landlord of this land today is the government of Bayelsa State. This is what the previous landlords of the airports facility should understand. We have heard reports and sometimes even protest of going to disrupt operations at the airport.
“The moment, by the laws of this country, the state government acquires your land and pays compensation fully, it means that that land is no longer your own. So, my brother, you have sold the goat and the rope to Bayelsa State Government and we appreciate you for that.
“It doesn’t actually mean that like you appealed to the government, if there are certain things to benefit, the government will look at you as the number one beneficiaries. But I will like you to disabuse the minds of colleagues that this land still belongs to them. This land no longer belongs to those families.”
Diri hailed the administration of former Governor Seriake Dickson for the vision to expand Yenagoa by acquiring the land for a new city.
Andrew said the new Yenagoa City GRA was established by law and placed under the management of the New Yenagoa City Development Agency.
He said the area was designed for 1,300 residential layouts, including commercial plots, hospitality areas, recreational centres, among others.
Andrew said Diri, in fulfilment of his campaign promise in the housing sector, had resolved to transform the new Yenagoa City to be the Lekkis, the Banana Islands and the Bahamas of Bayelsa State.