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Enugu moves to reconcile land issues, compensation
Enugu State Government has constituted a standing committee for property and land reconciliation and compensation with the mandate to review all title documents, construction approvals, double and wrongful allocations and double certificates of occupancy, and evaluate compensations in respect of government’s acquired lands, among other functions.
This was even as residents of the state welcomed the development as timely and commendable, insisting that the governor has begun to restore hope, justice and confidence in government.
Inaugurating the committee over the weekend in Enugu, the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, charged its members to be resolute, fair, transparent and bring to bear their experiences and integrity which were the conditions precedent for their selection.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who will also serve as Chairman of the committee, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the terms of reference of the committee as spelt out should be implemented to the letter, adding that the procedures adopted must pass the tests of integrity, accountability, traceability, transparency, and fairness to all parties regardless of status.
The committee known as Inter-Ministerial Committee for Property/Land Reconciliation and Compensation in Enugu State is saddled with the responsibilities of verifying all title documents relating to lands and property in any designated area assigned for construction; verifying all construction approvals and stages of construction; reconciling all issues of double allocations, wrongful allocation, double certificates of occupancy; evaluation and payment of compensations in respect of any acquisition; resolving issues of acquisition and recommending amount of compensation to be paid, and verifying allocations and payment made as a result of the allocations.
According to the governor, the committee’s assignment commences immediately with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government as the Secretariat for all correspondence, complaints and enquiries.
Part of the functions of the committee is to also verify construction within the Enugu International Conference Centre (ICC) and other government’s facilities.
Responding to their inauguration, a member of the committee who doubles as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, said the committee would not disappoint the public in the discharge of its duties as it would ensure social equity and justice, adding that all issues would be treated with utmost sense of responsibility.
“We accept it with every sense of responsibility, and we understand how sensitive it is. We understand that if this committee does its work well, that the members of the state that have been affected will heave a sigh of relief because all their interests, whatever be their concerns, whatever be their fears when channelled through this committee will be fully addressed; addressed from the point of social equity; addressed from the point of the rule of law; addressed from the magnanimity of a father to do good to his household.”
While appreciating the governor for trusting the committee with such responsibility, Dr. Udeh said Governor Mbah had been playing the role of a compassionate father with the interests of everyone in the state accommodated, saying “The Governor is the father of the state, Enugu State is the household. Every person in this state has been considered in envisioning the development that His Excellency is pursuing through different agencies of this government”.
He further called on any member of the public who is aggrieved to channel its grievance to the committee, assuring that justice would be done within time. “It is on that note that we invite the members of the public that may feel agrieved or affected by this to please come forward; come forward with genuine cases, genuine concerns, genuine claims, and through this committee the administration of Dr. Peter Mbah will address them because it is for the general good”.
Other members of the committee include the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Development and Implementation, Arc. Uchenna Nwatu, the State Acting Surveyor General, Mr. Justus Chime, a representative of Estate/Valuation Department, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal and Inter-Ministerial Matters who also doubles as Secretary of the Committee, Barr. Okonkwo Juliet.
The outbreak is said to have spread across several ISWAP enclaves, exposing worsening sanitary conditions and the dwindling availability of medical care within the insurgents’ camps.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X, citing intelligence sources familiar with the situation.
According to the sources, two other ISWAP fighters who contracted the highly infectious disease were allegedly executed by members of the group after efforts to treat them in Kimba village proved unsuccessful.
The incident is believed to reflect the increasingly difficult conditions inside the terrorist camps, where sustained military offensives have disrupted supply routes and severely limited access to medicines, healthcare and other essential resources.
Intelligence sources said the combination of poor hygiene, inadequate medical facilities and mounting operational pressure has left many of the insurgents vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
The sources further disclosed that military commanders have been advised to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceutical products suspected of being destined for terrorist hideouts. Security officials believe cutting off access to healthcare supplies could further weaken ISWAP’s ability to treat injured or sick fighters and reduce the group’s operational capacity.
While the reports have not been independently verified, the development is seen as another indication of the mounting challenges facing the insurgent group as security forces continue sustained operations across the North-East.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
In a shared post on his verified X handle, Onanuga simply announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.
“Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies,” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances leading to their freedom, had yet to be disclosed.
The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools; Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
No fewer than 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a principal, were taken during the attacks.
During the attack, a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape.
Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in the kidnappers’ den.
The terrorists holding the victims had reportedly made a four-point demand before agreeing to free the captives, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The Oyo State Government had consistently maintained that no ransom would be paid to secure the release of any victims.
The incident had triggered weeks of public anguish, with the Nigeria Union of Teachers embarking on a month-long strike in the state to press for the victims’ rescue before suspending the action in July.
It also drew federal intervention, with military and police authorities repeatedly assuring Nigerians that operations to secure the victims’ freedom were ongoing.
Reactions have trailed to trail the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000 following recent welfare reforms by the Federal Government.
Veterans and serving personnel have described the amount as grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s rising cost of living, while some accused the Federal Government of failing to implement a more substantial salary review promised months ago.
The criticism comes amid renewed concerns over troop welfare, military funding, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost morale among personnel battling insecurity across the country.
A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, argued that the current salary falls far short of what is needed to meet basic living expenses.
“It is not enough at all. What is N100,000 in the current situation of the country? It cannot go far. They should do better. If soldiers are paid more, they will be more motivated and committed to their duties,” he said.
Another retired military officer, Sergeant Zaki Williams, questioned the accuracy of the figure disclosed by the minister and described the amount as inadequate for personnel who risk their lives in service to the nation.
“I doubt if they are even paying up to that amount now. Even if they are, it is too little. Any government paying a soldier N100,000 in today’s economy is not serious enough about the welfare of its troops,” he said.
Williams noted that soldiers face enormous challenges and deserve better remuneration and working conditions.
Also reacting, the Coordinator of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Herbert-Durowaye, said the salary does not reflect the sacrifices made by military personnel.
“How can that be sufficient for someone putting his life on the line for the country? Consider the cost of food, housing, transportation, and children’s education. N100,000 is far from adequate for those responsible for protecting the nation’s peace and security,” he stated.
The reactions followed comments by the Minister of Defence during an interview with News Central, where he disclosed that the minimum monthly salary of soldiers had increased from N49,000 to N100,000 under the current administration.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has made deliberate efforts to improve troop welfare despite funding challenges facing the military.
“When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000,” he said.
Musa, however, acknowledged that the defence sector remains underfunded and requires greater financial support to effectively address the country’s security challenges.
The minister also advocated stricter penalties for kidnapping, including the possibility of introducing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that stronger deterrents are necessary to curb the growing wave of abductions across the country.
The debate over soldiers’ welfare comes at a time when the military continues to confront multiple security threats, with stakeholders insisting that improved remuneration, better equipment, and enhanced welfare packages are critical to boosting morale and operational effectiveness.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that travellers in the United States seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly at Nigerian diplomatic missions following the termination of its contract with a third-party visa processing company.
The new directive, which takes immediate effect, ends the role previously played by Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services), which had been responsible for receiving and processing Nigerian visa applications through its centres across the United States.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said visa applicants are now required to submit their documents directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.
The immigration service did not state the reason for ending its partnership with OIS Services.
However, Akinlabi assured applicants that adequate measures have been put in place at the embassy and consulates to ensure a smooth transition. He added that visa submission, processing and approval would continue without disruption.
He also urged prospective travellers to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.
A Professor of Economics and Governance, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, has called on South African Government to take active responsibility of protecting foreigner and desist from ‘compromising inaction’.
Uba, Chairman of the ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, made the call on Thursday in Enugu in a statement he titled: “South Africa Is Playing with Fire, and Its Elites Are Holding the Match”.
He said that the lack of intentional action against the individuals and groups perpetrate the xenophobic attacks, who are non-state actors, raises serious questions under international law.
The don noted that “protection of non-nationals is a clear obligation, not a discretionary act.”
According to him, persistent failure to uphold this responsibility undermines both legal commitments and diplomatic credibility.
Uba said that the implications of the development extend far beyond South Africa, adding that it would have economically, politically and diplomatically consequences both to the country and Africa in general.
He noted that economically, the country is not just another market.
“It is a continental anchor. Its financial systems, industrial base, and regional linkages make it central to African growth.
“Prolonged instability would ripple outward, constraining trade, deterring investment, and weakening regional integration,” he said.
On the Political aspect, he said that South Africa had long been seen as a model of democratic transition and constitutionalism.
“If that model begins to fracture, it sends a powerful signal across the continent.
“It emboldens those who argue that institutional democracy cannot deliver, and it weakens reformist voices elsewhere,” he said.
Uba said that diplomatically, xenophobic violence is not a domestic issue when it targets foreign nationals.
He said, “It is an international concern that tests regional solidarity and diplomatic patience.
“Each episode forces other African governments to respond, balancing domestic outrage with the need to preserve bilateral relations.”
The don noted that over time, the balance in the country would becomes harder to maintain as non-state actors would be emboldened to perpetrate other unlawful acts as they view the government as weak or inactive.
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