Land illegally acquired will be returned to State: Wange

By PISAI GUMAR
ALL land illegally acquired in Lae in the past 15 years will be returned to the State, land board chairman Sam Wange, pictured, says.
Wange said the Morobe provincial government lands and physical planning board was now investigating how the pieces land were obtained.
“The provincial land board and the Lae City Authority are to investigate all land dealings to verify how people acquired the land portions,” he said.
He warned those occupying land without following due processes to provide proof of ownership.
Wange made the remark during a two-day provincial land board meeting in Lae.
Some of the land in question were around the old Lae airport area.
“We have a task force to identify all State assets and verify their status,” Wange said. Deputy chairman John Ngadang said the board needed funding support from Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu.
“The board is dealing with a backlog of illegal land matters and the Ahi indigenous people are prepared to work in partnership. It requires Saonu and the provincial administration to support us financially,” Ngadang said.