By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Fresh investigations by National Watch TV have uncovered that a prominent hotelier in Lokoja was the beneficiary of the controversial and unauthorized sale of the old Lokoja Water Reservoir located in Karaworo, a transaction that has sparked widespread outrage following the vandalization of critical public infrastructure at the facility.
The investigation revealed that the property was allegedly sold through the former Director-General of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, Alhaji Abdulmalik Teina, who was removed from office by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo over allegations of land racketeering and other irregular land transactions.
Sources familiar with the transaction disclosed that the reservoir, a strategic public asset belonging to the Kogi State Government, was allegedly transferred to the hotelier at what insiders described as a giveaway price and without the approval of the appropriate government authorities.
The discovery comes amid growing concerns over the ongoing destruction of facilities at the reservoir.
Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) recently arrested a suspect identified as Adimami, who allegedly claimed to be acting as an agent of the purported buyer while supervising the vandalization of water pipes and other installations at the site.
Findings indicate that no official government approval was obtained before the transaction was carried out, raising questions about the legality of the sale and the circumstances under which ownership of the property was purportedly transferred.
The old Lokoja Water Reservoir has long been regarded as a critical public facility, and stakeholders have expressed fears that the destruction of its infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for public assets in the state.
Sources within government circles told National Watch Tv that investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the transaction, identify all parties involved, and recover any public property unlawfully disposed of.
Efforts to obtain comments from the alleged buyer and other individuals linked to the transaction were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, residents and civil society groups have called on the Kogi State Government and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the sale, prosecute anyone found culpable, and ensure the protection of public assets from further encroachment and vandalization.
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