The Edo State Government has urged residents and property owners in the state on prompt payment of the land use charges associated with properties under their ownership/occupation to avoid enforcement of actions stipulated by the state Land Use Charge Law 2023, as amended.

The Managing Director of the Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Mrs. Osaro Grace Aihie, in a notice made available to journalists in Benin City, said the enforcement action include seizure of the property, imposition of penalties and interests and institution of legal actions to recover the debt, among others.

She said the notice was in accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of the Land Use Charge Law of 2023.

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According to her, “In accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of the Land Use Charge Law of 2023, this notice serves to inform you that there are outstanding land use charges associated with properties under your ownership/occupation. It is imperative that these charges are settled promptly to avoid further enforcement actions as stipulated by the Edo State Land Use Charge Law 2023 as amended.”

Aihie explained that enforcement action will include but may not be limited to the following steps, “Seizure which involves the closure of the property until payment is made in full; imposition of Penalties and Interest as penalties and interest will continue to accrue on the outstanding amount until full payment is made, and legal action”, adding that “If the outstanding amount is not settled within 30 days upon receipt of this notice, legal action will be taken to recover the debt.”

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She further stated, “We would like to avoid taking such drastic measures and urge you to settle the outstanding land use charge as soon as possible to avoid any further escalation of the situation.”

“Please contact us immediately at our office to discuss payment options or to seek clarification on the outstanding amount. Failure to respond to this notice and settle the outstanding land use charge will result in legal action being taken against you,” the EdoGIS MD charged.

She also warned, “Please do not pay cash to anybody; ensure you pay your money to a dedicated account specified on your LUC demand notice, and please do not deal with middle men.”

A former Senator who represented Enugu North Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Ayogu Eze is dead.

A reliable source told Vanguard that Eze who was in the National Assembly between 2007 and 2015 died on Thursday in an Abuja hospital at the age of 66 after suffering from a protracted illness.

For the 8 years he spent in the Senate, Eze served as Committee Chairman on Information and Media during the first four years and after his reelection to the senate in 2011, was appointed chairman committee on works.

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Eze also served as a member of committees on Police Affairs, National Planning, Marine Transport and Federal Character & Inter-Government Affairs and also member of the Constitution Drafting and Amendment Committee that made some novel changes to Nigeria’s 1999 constitution.

A youth leader from his community, Umuiyda autonomous community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Ikechukwu Eze who confirmed it, said he can’t talk now because they are in shock over the sad news.

He said the death of Senator Eze was a big loss to the zone and Nigeria in general.

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“We heard the sad news. We are mourning him now. His death is a loss to us, the state and Nigeria,” he said.

Sen. Eze, born 23 November 1958, was elected Senator for the Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, Nigeria, taking office on June 5, 2007.

The Edo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has threatened to clamp down on truck drivers who carry loads and passengers together.

The Edo State FRSC Sector Commander, Paul Okpe, disclosed this during a sensitizion of the National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW), Aduwawa Truck Drivers chapter, on the need to stop the carrying goods and passengers together.

Okpe, while warning the truck drivers to desist from the act, said the sensitization was to engage the leadership of the truck drivers union on how to drive on the highway, imbibe safety culture, and stop using truck to carrying load and passengers.

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“We are going to go round other locations of the union in the state to also sensitise them. It is not a good practice and when an accident happens, most of the passengers always die, and we want to reduce accidents on the road,” he said.

He added: “We are happy that the drivers are keying into the exercise, assured us of their support. They have also given us good advice especially stopping the loading of passengers and goods from the north.”

According to him, after sensitisation, the corp will commence enforcement on erring drivers.

He noted: “With the assurance they gave us we are sure that the menace would be eradicated.

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“We are using public enlightenment and enforcement to curb this menace.This campaign, launched by the Corp Marshal, Alhaji Dauda Biu is ongoing across the country” he said .

He, however, called on the drivers to imbibe road safety culture and refrain from carrying animals and passengers, saying it is not a good practice

On his party, the Chairman, NURTW Heavy Truck Drivers, Aduwawa branch, Alhaji Badamasi Muhammed, commended the FRSC for the sensitization and assured them of total support.

“This issue has been worrying us, but we are not a government that can stop it, but now thayt government is interested, it is going to stop. And they should stop it from the north where they are loading goods and passengers.

“So, we will join the FRSC and talk to our driver to ensure that loading of goods and people together is not good and should be stopped. Last time, about 50 people died when a truck conveying cows and human beings had an accident,” he said.