The Imo State Government has revoked all statutory and customary rights of occupancy covering the Old Timber Market, popularly known as Ogbo Osisi, and several adjoining parcels of land in Owerri, citing overriding public interest.
The revocation, contained in Imo State Official Gazette No. 17, Volume 50, published on June 4, 2026, takes immediate effect and affects all legal interests previously granted over the designated properties. The order was signed by Governor Hope Uzodimma under the powers conferred by Section 28 of the Land Use Act.
According to the gazette, the decision cancels every form of land interest on the affected properties, including certificates of occupancy, leases, licences, allocation letters, deeds of assignment, subleases, letters of offer and other legal rights previously issued by the state government.
The government stated that the acquisition was made for “an overriding public purpose” in line with Sections 5, 8 and 28 of the Land Use Act. It added that all statutory and customary rights of occupancy over the designated land had been revoked and all interests previously granted had been legally terminated.
The order also nullifies all special contracts entered into by the state government relating to the affected land. These include statutory certificates of occupancy, deeds of assignment, allocation letters, subleases and other contractual interests created under the Land Use Act.
A schedule attached to the official gazette identified the affected properties as Plots 89 to 117 within the Umuoyima South Residential Pocket Layout, Owerri, formerly known as Ogbo Osisi (Old Timber Market). The listed plots include numbers 89 through 117.
The gazette serves as the official legal notice to landowners, occupants and all other interested parties, marking the commencement of the government’s land acquisition process.
While the state government did not disclose the specific project planned for the site, it maintained that the revocation was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Land Use Act and in the interest of the public.
