Imo community jubilates as work begins on Nigeria Prison site

“A cross section of elders and youths of Okwu, Umuoma in Nekede Autonomous community of Owerri west Local Government Area in Imo state, have expressed joy that after years of abandonment,  the Nigeria Prison Service, NPS, has commenced work on their site.” – Vanguard

Vanguard visited the area yesterday and discovered that clearing and carting away of unwanted trees in the land have fully commenced, with members of the host community present to ensure hitch free exercise. It was gathered that the land was given to the Nigeria Prison Service in Imo state, by Nekede community, since the creation of Imo state, to build their administrative headquarters among others.

But Vanguard learnt that anxiety enveloped the community when the rumour came that the state government had revoked the land and offered the ,NPS, another location. Speaking to Vanguard  on the issue, the chairman of Okwu Umuoma Improvement League in Nekede Autonomous community, Mr. Okechukwu Opara, said: “People have been feeding the members of the public with lies that the Nigeria Prison site has been moved to Okwu Okwu and Orlu. “The government took part of it for rescue layout estate and now, it is 38 hectares of land and the 38 is intact.

You can see that they have started clearing of the land and we are here to ensure progress. “Also, we have entered into a memorandum of understanding with them and we told them that our youths need employment as well as contracts.” Adding his voice, the youth chairman of the community, Mr. Kamalu Gabriel, said: “We want to thank the Nigeria Prison Service for coming to start work on the land which we gave to them many years ago.

“We the youths are solidly behind them. We also thank them. Few months ago, they gave us our traditional rites. We are also pleading that whatever understanding we have reached should be maintained.”

Source: Vanguard