By Sonnie Okem
The Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon. Christopher Agbeh, has pledged to recover and secure all movable and immovable government properties under his administration, emphasizing that the era of mismanagement and waste must come to an end.
He made this commitment during the inauguration of the Assets Recovery Committee, urging its members to remain upright and diligent in carrying out their assignment, which he described as a call to service. Hon. Agbeh revealed that numerous council properties are currently unaccounted for, with some allegedly sold or taken away without due process. He assured the committee of his full support in recovering all council assets wrongfully acquired or held by individuals.
Hon. Agbeh stressed that Ogoja Local Government Council possesses sufficient landed properties which, if properly managed, could sustain the administration and alleviate financial constraints. He emphasized that reclaiming and utilizing these properties would enhance productivity, facilitate official assignments, and address the accommodation challenges currently faced by the council.
The Chairman also appealed to the public to cooperate with the committee by providing useful information to aid their efforts.
In his response, the Chairman of the Assets Recovery Committee, Mr. Ishoranne Ayim, pledged to adhere strictly to the committee’s terms of reference and ensure that members prioritize hard work over rhetoric. He urged the Ogoja Local Government Council not to treat the committee’s inauguration as a mere formality but to ensure its effective functioning and the implementation of its final report.
Mr. Ayim criticized the poor management of government properties in the past, stressing that officials should treat public assets with the same care as personal property, as these resources are essential for achieving desired outcomes. He assured that the committee would work diligently to complete its report within the stipulated timeframe.
The committee includes Hon. Julius Abue as Secretary, Chief Austin Egem as Director of Operations, and members such as Dr. Frank Matiki, Hon. Godwin Odey, Boniface Agboje, and the Council’s Legal Adviser, Barr. Leonard Egede.
