The Anambra State Government has revoked portions of land allocated to a private residential development in Awka following what officials described as prolonged non-compliance with agreed development terms, as the state intensifies efforts to address urban decay, land speculation and the growing housing deficit in the capital territory.
The revocation exercise was carried out on Wednesday by enforcement officials of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), who moved into the affected area to enforce compliance with development regulations and planning standards.
Officials said the action followed repeated warnings to estate developers to commence construction in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state government, which set clear timelines and specifications for development.
The land, located within a designated residential layout now referred to as Fame, was part of a broader urban expansion plan intended to support orderly growth and provide housing opportunities for residents of the state capital.
According to ACTDA, many of the plots allocated several years ago remain largely undeveloped, contrary to the conditions under which approval was granted.
Speaking during the enforcement exercise, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Dr. Ossy Onuko, said the revocation was part of the agency’s ongoing urban renewal drive aimed at restoring planning discipline and ensuring that government land allocations serve public interest.
He explained that the exercise falls under Operation Keep Awka Clean, a programme designed to promote structured development, discourage land banking and improve the overall functionality of the capital city.
Dr. Onuko said several developers acquired land with the understanding that construction would commence within three years, but many failed to meet that obligation.
“Government land is not for speculation. It is allocated to support development, create livable communities and address housing needs,” he said.
He added that ACTDA would no longer tolerate situations where valuable urban land is held indefinitely without development while housing demand continues to rise.
According to him, the authority is working in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Lands to identify undeveloped plots, enforce development timelines and reassign revoked land to developers with the capacity and readiness to build.
“This is about accountability and responsible land use. Our focus is on ensuring that land contributes to housing supply and urban growth, not private speculation,” Onuko stated.
Also speaking, the Head of the Development Control Unit of ACTDA, Mr. Charles Ekwunife, described the pace of development in Fame as far below expectations, noting that the layout was originally conceived as a model residential project for Awka.
He said the MoU signed between the government and developers clearly outlined standards and milestones, including the requirement that significant development should have been achieved within the first three years.
“What we have seen instead is slow progress that does not reflect the vision behind the allocation,” Ekwunife said.
He stressed that development control measures would be enforced uniformly, regardless of the identity of developers, adding that compliance with planning regulations remains non-negotiable.
Ekwunife noted that failure to act decisively would worsen the housing shortage in Awka and undermine public confidence in government land administration.
In her response, the Facility Manager overseeing the Fame development, Mrs. Nwanneka Nwachukwu, acknowledged that construction in the area has been slow, disclosing that development has not reached 20 per cent.
She said estate managers had made several efforts to encourage plot owners to build, including regular communication, meetings and sensitisation programmes.
According to her, while progress has been limited, the intervention by ACTDA aligns with the broader goal of creating a functional residential community rather than leaving land idle.
She commended the government for enforcing development standards, noting that timely action would help reposition the area for meaningful growth.
Urban planning experts say the revocation highlights a broader challenge facing rapidly growing cities, where land is often acquired for speculative purposes instead of development, worsening housing shortages and infrastructure strain.
Awka has witnessed significant population growth in recent years, increasing demand for affordable and well-planned housing.
Government officials insist that reclaiming undeveloped estate land is a necessary step toward closing this gap, restoring urban order and ensuring that land allocations translate into tangible benefits for residents.
ACTDA reiterated that further inspections would continue across the capital territory, warning that other undeveloped plots may face similar action if developers fail to comply with approved plans and timelines.
The authority said the goal is not punitive but corrective, aimed at building a more organized, livable and housing-responsive.
