‘Ours Is Finished’: Abia Villagers Protest Alleged Land Acquisition for Smart City

UMUAHIA — Residents of Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu villages in Isiala Aro-Ngwa Autonomous Community, Osisioma Ngwa LGA of Abia State, have protested against the alleged acquisition of more ancestral land for a proposed smart city project.

The villagers urged the Abia State Government to stop further acquisition in the area, insisting that the communities no longer had sufficient land for additional government development projects.

The protest followed reports that the state government had acquired land across the three villages for the proposed smart city.

According to the protesters, the communities had previously provided large portions of their ancestral land for government projects, including the trailer park and the permanent site of the Abia State Polytechnic.

They asked the government to look elsewhere for land for the smart city project, noting that other communities still had sufficient land available.

The residents also expressed concern over reports that property already purchased by individuals for development had been affected by the alleged acquisition.

They said the situation had created uncertainty for landowners and investors who had invested in the area.

Speaking on behalf of the affected villages, Comrade Friday Appolos said the communities had lost significant portions of their ancestral land over the years through acquisitions and transactions involving individuals who purportedly acted on behalf of the government.

He called on the state government to allow existing developers, particularly indigenes who had legally acquired land, to continue with their projects.

Appolos said:

“We recall that the Abia State Government in the past acquired land for the permanent site of the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Osisioma Ngwa, and the larger part of it belongs to Umuawafor village, which has about 95 per cent of the land there.

“They also acquired massive portions of land for projects like the trailer park and other projects in Isiala Aro-Ngwa.

“The recent purported acquisition is frustrating. This is injustice, inhuman and unacceptable. We call on the Abia State Government to take note that those bringing them here to take our land are not our people.

“These affected villages have never for one day seen any government representatives. We call on the Abia State Government to leave the Aro-Ngwa people alone. Development must not start and end in Aro-Ngwa. There are other villages with enough land to give out. Ours is finished.”

Appolos said residents were concerned about their future and where they would live if the government acquired the remaining land.

He appealed to the state government to respect the rights of the communities and engage them directly on any development plans involving their ancestral property.

Meanwhile, Mr. Obiora Edward, a lawyer representing some investors in the area, disclosed that his clients had gone to court over the alleged acquisition of their land.

The investors — Cyril Nwachukwu, Nkechi Nwachukwu and Emeka Nwachukwu — are indigenes of the area and had purchased the property for development, Edward said.

According to the lawyer, the dispute is before the court in Suit No. HOS/168/2025.

Edward said his clients first heard rumours of the alleged acquisition last year and made attempts to contact the state government without success.

“Some time last year, we got a rumour that the Abia State Government had acquired the land belonging to my clients. All efforts made to reach out to the government proved abortive.

“They went ahead to sue the government with Suit No. HOS/168/2025. Upon service of the suit on the government, it responded through a lawyer. The matter is still pending in court.”

The lawyer expressed concern that, despite the pending litigation, individuals reportedly associated with investors were allegedly preparing to commence development on the disputed property.

He said his clients had documents backing their ownership and had purchased the land specifically for development.

Edward maintained that any government acquisition should comply with the law, including proper notification and payment of adequate compensation to affected owners.

“If the government wants the land, it should contact my clients, or it should leave the land alone because my clients are ready to develop this land whichever way the government wants it or pay adequate compensation,” he said.

He said the disputed property comprised more than 140 plots.

The affected communities appealed to the Abia State Government to open discussions with residents and landowners, resolve the dispute amicably and prevent further disagreements over the proposed smart city development.

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