The Delta Government on Friday in Asaba inaugurated a six-member committee to investigate encroachment on government land.
Inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Sir Patrick Ferife, said that encroachment on government land had become a huge challenge to the government.
Ferife said the government had over the years acquired vast expanse of land in different parts of the states for the development purposes.
He said that this had prompted the invitation of investors to partner with government in the development of the state.
The commissioner, however, said it was sad that the land acquired by government had been encroached upon by members of the public with so much impunity.
Ferife said development could only be carried out in areas where land had been acquired by government.
He said that acquisitions in the Osubi area of Warri, and those in Urkhuokoko, Ugolo and Okpanam communities, all in Delta had been seriously encroached upon.
The commissioner charged the committee with the responsibility of compiling an inventory of all state government acquired lands.
The committee is also to identify the extent of encroachment on government land, advice government on the quickest strategy to recover its land, as well as recommend appropriate sanctions to stop further encroachment.
The committee, which has Mr Lawrence Aghwanah as chairman and Mr Anthony Usenu as secretary has three months to work and submit its report.
Responding on behalf of the committee members, Usenu said illegal encroachment was something that had steadily crept into government land.
He gave the assurance that the members of the committee would serve with unity of purpose and commitment to combat public encroachment on government land. (NAN