Delta Government says it will enforce strict implementation of the ‘anti-deve’ law which proscribed illegal and forceful entry into development sites across the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Monday at a press conference in Asaba, the state capital.

He warned violators of the State Public and Private Properties Protection Law signed into law by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 2018.

The commissioner was reacting to concerns that despite the enactment of the law, some community leaders and youths were still flouting the law by harassing business owners and property developers in the state.

Aniagwu disclosed that Governor Okowa had received from alarming reports from both public and private developers on the development.

He called on the people to report such harassments to law enforcement agencies who are empowered by law to prosecute the offenders.

"You will recall that two years ago, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa assented to a piece of legislation outlawing what we used to call "deve"

"We are making it very clear that, that law is still in force because we are getting reports that some persons are still harassing some individuals and that if anybody harasses you because you want to develop your plot of land, or your property, you are at liberty to notify the law enforcement agencies to prosecute such persons.

"You don’t say because that law has been signed and take the law into your hands to fight anybody who wants to harass you. Take advantage of that law to invite the law enforcement agencies whose duty it is to prosecute such persons.

"We are also seizing this opportunity to warn those who think that they can harass big investors, being it local or foreign that we will not hesitate to take advantage of that law to prosecute anybody found wanting in this regard.

"This is because we have observed before coming up with that law, that the "deve" mentality impinges on development in a number of areas and that those who wanted to develop their plots of land or bring some other investments, were disturbed by this practice and that’s why we outlawed it so that we can speed up the process of development of our state.

"We are convinced that if the state develops as fast as we desire it to, that these individuals who think that deve is the only true way they can survive, will even get employment gainfully and have more legitimate job to do than attacking people and asking for deve levy.

"The state Government frowns at it and will take the advantage of the law to prosecute whoever is reported or arrested because we believe that such persons is an enemy of the state. We do not want people who have suffered and laboured to bring such development to our state to be disturbed on account of that." he said.

He said the state government in partnership with the police and other security agencies has scaled up security checks on major highways to check the incidences of kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes and appealed to the people to cooperate with them to protect lives and property.

The Commissioner also announced further easing of lockdown on worship centres in the state, saying they can now hold more than one service but with strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols.

"Before now Churches are only allowed to hold only one service efore now worship centres are not allowed to hold more than one serves because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"But now we have are going to hold more than one service but they must still adhere strictly to the social distancing rule, wearing of face masks, washing of hands or use of hand sanitisers before worshippers are allowed into the premises of such worship centres.

"We believe that our people have been sufficiently sensitised to understand that this protocol need to be observed but we have also observed that there are some individuals who believe in that dream world that COVID-19 is a scam.

"To such persons we will still take steps to sensitise them taking advantage of the traditional institution and of course the religious bodies to also help us pass the message across while also preaching the message of salvation.

Aniagwu appealed to those whose business have been impacted by the lockdown to be patient with government as it will be easier to revive the economy than to revive the dead.

"We are still taking steps in collaboration with the Presidential Task Force to review some of the lockdown decisions we took earlier and we appeal to our brothers who are into businesses like entertainment to bear with us. Little by little the curve is being flattened and once we get out of this we will begin to live our normal lives." he stated.

Agbarho police have never arrested anybody to this regard but report at the police station,they police will personally advise you to pay them.polce say Dem nor get body for wahala...osubi own nko when the speaker of Delta State House of assembly and his entire houshold are the people collecting development Levy...who go arrest them....okowa answers me ooo

baritereign24:
Agbarho police have never arrested anybody to this regard but report at the police station,they police will personally advise you to pay them.polce say Dem nor get body for wahala...osubi own nko when the speaker of Delta State House of assembly and his entire houshold are the people collecting development Levy...who go arrest them....okowa answers me ooo

Agbarho and Ogahra Youths matter no be here O! Police and Youth leaders work hand in hand to collect deve, na only soldiers sure pass

tutudesz:

Agbarho and Ogahra Youths matter no be here O! Police and Youth leaders work hand in hand to collect deve, na only soldiers sure pass

Uvwie and Okpe youths say hi

In Agbarho, once you pay a fixed price, you are allowed to work on your site, you see our Uvwie and Okpe sons? those guys are something else.

Cut off, Community development levy, Permit levy, Area chairman levy, contractor fee... Don't even bring in the police, they'd frustrate your life, unless you'd have security personnel stationed at your site all day till the project is completed.

If that will be enforced, I support it.

Sometimes, we are the reasons why development eludes us.

To even think that youths are usually the perpetrators of this act baffles me.

Even when development projects are brought to your community, you'll still be demanding for "matching ground".

Deve here and there.....useless people, na why hometown still be as e dey so because of myopic reasoning

Good news!!

Urhobo youths are tooo lazy

Efewestern:


Uvwie and Okpe youths say hi

In Agbarho, once you pay a fixed price, you are allowed to work on your site, you see our Uvwie and Okpe sons? those guys are something else.

Cut off, Community development levy, Permit levy, Area chairman levy, contractor fee... Don't even bring in the police, they'd frustrate your life, unless you'd have security personnel stationed at your site all day till the project is completed.

Udu youths no get Joy too Buy land beers money, buy block beers money, clear glass beers money. But my Ijaw brother for Burutu go just tell straight to finish your house na 500k, unless you want trouble

That's why the state is not welcoming to those that want to develop something there.


I planned to start building in delta state, but those guys are part of the reasons i am stalling it.

Awesome if they can do this.

Paid 200k just two days ago for two pieces of lands. Monies paid to people that did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU!

Made me feel really bad, but you have no choice but to pay if you arent a military officer. Those idiots would frustrate the hell put of you.

tutudesz:

Udu youths no get Joy too Buy land beers money, buy block beers money, clear glass beers money. But my Ijaw brother for Burutu go just tell straight to finish your house na 500k, unless you want trouble

When they are demanding this money en , blood of God , like they worked for it, if you have had any encounter with these guys, you would hate the day you were born. Very brutal and they don't have mercy, even after settling all these unnecessary bills, when bringing materials to your site like granite, they would block the road for any small fee . Them no send you.

I weak for their matter, so Burutu boys brutal too. . 500k, how much you take buy land?

Late lady Rose sang about this some years back, sad that nothing much has changed.

omenka:
Awesome if they can do this.

Paid 200k just two days ago for two pieces of lands. Monies paid to people that did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU!

Made me feel really bad, but you have no choice but to pay if you arent a military officer. Those idiots would frustrate the hell put of you.

What state? 200k for two pieces of land? quite fair, in my locality, that's the money for "quarter chairman", other bills exempted.

omenka:
Awesome if they can do this.

Paid 200k just two days ago for two pieces of lands. Monies paid to people that did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU!

Made me feel really bad, but you have no choice but to pay if you arent a military officer. Those idiots would frustrate the hell put of you.

omenka come and marry all of us at manna BBQ

Efewestern:


When they are demanding this money en , blood of God , like they worked for it, if you have had any encounter with these guys, you would hate the day you were born. Very brutal and they don't have mercy, even after settling all these unnecessary bills, when bringing materials to your site like granite, they would block the road for any small fee . Them no send you.

I weak for their matter, so Burutu boys brutal too. . 500k, how much you take buy land?

Late lady Rose sang about this some years back, sad that nothing much has changed.

What if you come from the community, you don enter one chance O! Abk boys go use you open office
Buy Cow you go pay to bring am enter village O! You go buy killing ground money again to kill the cow inside your house and them go still come collect meats and drink again
That y no single company dey Delta south and central.

omenka:
Awesome if they can do this.

Paid 200k just two days ago for two pieces of lands. Monies paid to people that did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR YOU!

Made me feel really bad, but you have no choice but to pay if you arent a military officer. Those idiots would frustrate the hell put of you.

My dad a retired Col paid half O! Because community boy will collect the money one way or the other, either Robbery or you give freely

Efewestern:


What state? 200k for two pieces of land? quite fair, in my locality, that's the money for "quarter chairman", other bills exempted.

Benue. A plot goes for 100k.

They call it "community dues". It is the most brazen criminal act ongoing in the country. The government knows about it yet does nothing about it. If that isn't robbery/criminal extortion, what else is?

tutudesz:

My dad a retired Col paid half O! Because community boy will collect the money one way or the other, either Robbery or you give freely

Na wa o. God forbid I paid if I were a military officer sha.

If any so called youth as much as sniffs in the direction of my site labourers, na guardroom go get you for one week.

If anything goes missing or any block laid deliberately broken at night or any materials on site goes missing overnight, both the idiotic youth leaders and the elders of the community go hear am from me.

Very useless bunch of crooks. They'd sit at home idling away and collect monies they've not earned from innocent citizens.

Very painful stuff.

omenka:
Benue. A plot goes for 100k.
They call it "community dues". It is the most brazen criminal act ongoing in the country. The government knows about it yet does nothing about it. If that isn't robbery/criminal extortion, what else is?

The government dey thief for top, so the community boys dey theif their own for dem level.
Na so country be now.
Our sad reality of corruption everywhere.
Is this also stealing or it is different from stealing

HenryUbus12345:
Delta Government says it will enforce strict implementation of the ‘anti-deve’ law which proscribed illegal and forceful entry into development sites across the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Monday at a press conference in Asaba, the state capital.

News without source?
Abeg put something joor, even sef if na sauce.

tutudesz:

What if you come from the community, you don enter one chance O! Abk boys go use you open office
Buy Cow you go pay to bring am enter village O! You go buy killing ground money again to kill the cow inside your house and them go still come collect meats and drink again
That y no single company dey Delta south and central.

Penny wise, pound foolish?
Has that made them prosperous? I doubt since they will just chop and drink with the "free" money.

anonimi:


Penny wise, pound foolish?
Has that made them prosperous? I doubt since they will just chop and drink with the "free" money.

Na drink,smoke and break themselves head when time to share the remaining money

This deve of a thing is discouraging investors. This has to stop, and the govt is not doing enough to bring it to a halt.

tutudesz:

What if you come from the community, you don enter one chance O! Abk boys go use you open office
Buy Cow you go pay to bring am enter village O! You go buy killing ground money again to kill the cow inside your house and them go still come collect meats and drink again
That y no single company dey Delta south and central.

Lol, if you are from the community, you won't pay some certain fee, unlike when you are a stranger. So your dad, a retired Colonel paid those unnecessary bills?

Oghene!

omenka:
Na wa o. God forbid I paid if I were a military officer sha.

If any so called youth as much as sniffs in the direction of my site labourers, na guardroom go get you for one week.

If anything goes missing or any block laid deliberately broken at night or any materials on site goes missing overnight, both the idiotic youth leaders and the elders of the community go hear am from me.

Very useless bunch of crooks. They'd sit at home idling away and collect monies they've not earned from innocent citizens.

Very painful stuff.

It's really sad that this rubbish happens everywhere, that most people prefer to invest and live in other state outside theirs.
Na only politicans sites them dey avoid, base on free money.

omenka:
Benue. A plot goes for 100k.

They call it "community dues". It is the most brazen criminal act ongoing in the country. The government knows about it yet does nothing about it. If that isn't robbery/criminal extortion, what else is?

Truth is, government sees this as a form of youth empowerment, they can't stop it because they work with these guys.

We can't woo investors into our country while letting such evil practices go on, it's frustrating. I hope we get things right one day.

Efewestern:


Lol, if you are from the community, you won't pay some certain fee, unlike when you are a stranger. So your dad, a retired Colonel paid those unnecessary bills?

Oghene!

To build hostel for Abraka no easy O!

Efewestern:


Truth is, government sees this as a form of youth empowerment, they can't stop it because they work with these guys.

We can't woo investors into our country while letting such evil practices go on, it's frustrating. I hope we get things right one day.

I'm not sure the government has a hand in it. It is strictly a money they share amongst themselves.

Had to do this because I'm leaving the country for a long time soon. Wanted to completely secure the properties. Ministry go still chop their own share today.

Even had to secretly record the whole thing before someone tries to say something else some other day.

Efewestern:
Truth is, government sees this as a form of youth empowerment, they can't stop it because they work with these guys.

We can't woo investors into our country while letting such evil practices go on, it's frustrating. I hope we get things right one day.

Please how do you use hope alone to get things right?
Please help a brother out, I am confused.

anonimi:


The government dey thief for top, so the community boys dey theif their own for dem level.
Na so country be now.
Our sad reality of corruption everywhere.
Is this also stealing or it is different from stealing

Of course it is stealing and nothing else. There's no other way to characterize it.

Law for mouth ! In Delta State mostly Delta Central developer suffer allot . Imagine community flogging engineer for not paying engineering fee to them . Please Okowa should stop playing politics with this because we know they used this same boys to their political advantage that's why they don't want to eradicate it. In place like Ovwian, Okpaka, Uvwie, Igbudu you pay community development fee of up to 400k before moulding block. They will still insist on giving you labourer with high wage payment. Imagine paying 100naira to lay 9 inches block whereas in Abuja you can use 45naira.

Please Okowa help us

drtwist:
Law for mouth ! In Delta State mostly Delta Central developer suffer allot . Imagine community flogging engineer for not paying engineering fee to them . Please Okowa should stop playing politics with this because we know they used this same boys to their political advantage that's why they don't want to eradicate it. In place like Ovwian, Okpaka, Uvwie, Igbudu you pay community development fee of up to 400k before moulding block. They will still insist on giving you labourer with high wage payment. Imagine paying 100naira to lay 9 inches block whereas in Abuja you can use 45naira.

Please Okowa help us

The lazy labourers that will work slow to earn more, imagine a 1 month project dragging for 3 month because of community issue

omenka:
I'm not sure the government has a hand in it. It is strictly a money they share amongst themselves.

Had to do this because I'm leaving the country for a long time soon. Wanted to completely secure the properties. Ministry go still chop their own share today.

Even had to secretly record the whole thing before someone tries to say something else some other day.

See the idiot counting the money, like he worked for it