Imo Government Orders Garden Horticulturists to Register, Regularise Operations as Levy Ban Is Lifted

Garden horticulturists operating across Imo State have been directed to register with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Physical Planning as the state government moves to bring their activities under proper regulation.

The Commissioner for Lands, Survey, and Physical Planning, Barrister Enyinna Onuegbu, gave the directive when members of the Association of Garden Horticulturists visited the ministry to meet the newly appointed leadership.

Onuegbu said the government needs an accurate record of all horticultural operators in the state and urged those yet to register to immediately regularise their businesses. He also directed operators to pay approved statutory fees through the state’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“Anybody that knows anybody (Garden Horticulturists) that is not known to the government, from today, come and submit your names to the government, register with us, tell us where you are, and regularize your activities,” the commissioner said.

He explained that registration would help the government identify operators, monitor their activities and ensure that horticultural businesses comply with existing laws and regulations. The move is also expected to give registered operators clearer recognition within the state’s regulatory framework.

Speaking for the association, Okey Anaele said the delegation visited the ministry to formally establish its relationship with the government agency responsible for regulating garden horticulturists in Imo State. He said members were prepared to comply with government requirements following the lifting of the suspension on statutory levy collection.

Anaele said horticulturists were willing to pay all approved levies and regularise their operations so they could continue their businesses without unnecessary disruption.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Open Spaces and Parks Management, Hon. Mike Akwuiwu, also urged members to maintain a close relationship with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Physical Planning, which he described as their “parent ministry”. He said proper registration could help protect horticulturists from exploitation by individuals operating outside the government’s regulatory system.

Akwuiwu further disclosed that the state government had recovered additional road verges and open spaces through the Office of the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Compliance, Hon. Chinasa Nwaneri. He said the government would prefer horticulturists to occupy and maintain recovered verges and open spaces rather than allow illegal occupants to turn them into shanties.