Governor Emmanuel Adil (C) poses for a photo with Central Equatoria State officials after the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed officials on Monday. (Photo: Radio Tamazuj)

Governor Adil directs new Juba commissioner to check land-grabbing

The governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, on Monday, directed the newly appointed commissioner of Juba County, Emmanuel Teta Simon, to tackle land grabbing and regulate the movement of animals in the city.

The governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, on Monday, directed the newly appointed commissioner of Juba County, Emmanuel Teta Simon, to tackle land grabbing and regulate the movement of animals in the city.

During the swearing-in of the newly appointed state officials at the state secretariat in Juba, Governor Adil said land grabbing has led to insecurity and illegal sale of land by crooks.

“There is a menace that is very serious and it has slipped away from land grabbing into insecurity. I think this will occupy 90 percent of your time. The last time I toured Juba County and the rest of Central Equatoria, I said that for us to address the issue of land grabbing in Juba, we have to plan, demarcate and survey land because there has been a population explosion in Juba,” he said. “We have to regulate the movement of animals and anyone who owns cattle should tie them down. Soon, we will pass a law in parliament and we will tax your cattle because you are not making them productive but leaving them to create problems for people. If you can have thousands of cattle, why do you create problems for someone who does not have cattle?”

“Cattle are a gift from God and we should take good care of them,” Adil added.

The governor advised the new commissioner to work with the people and urged the people to support him.

The newly appointed commissioner of Juba County, Emmanuel Teta Simon, thanked the leadership for the trust bestowed upon him and pledged to work collaboratively with all the relevant government stakeholders to deliver services.

“It is our role to work as a group to deliver services. I would like to thank President Salva Kiir and our governor, Emmanuel Adil. I want to say that I am coming to work with the people because the government belongs to the people and it must deliver services to the people,” he stated. “So, I want to say that I will communicate and cooperate with my colleagues, especially our newly appointed minister of local government and other colleagues in the cabinet of Central Equatoria State.”

President Kiir appointed Emmanuel Teta Simon to replace Charles Joseph Wani as the commissioner of Juba County on Friday last week.