City Terminates Land Lease Contracts for 154 Sites

Addis Ababa September 22/02018 The Addis Ababa City Administration has canceled land lease agreements of 154 sites, which were left idle for many years, Deputy Mayor Takele Uma said. In his presser, Takele disclosed that the Administration has taken the land from the owners as they failed to develop the places as per their agreement. It canceled the lease contracts of the sites that has been idle for as many as 13 years in order to use the land for the benefit of the public, Takele added. Out of the total 154 sites, some 96 are owned by individuals, while 30 and 18 by government and diplomatic institutions, the deputy mayor said. According to Takele, the Administration has also taken land in 11 sites from the MIDROC Group, as it failed to carry out constructions in accordance with its agreement. The City Administration has taken land totaling of over 4 million square meters. Takele said the land that the Administration has taken back will be used for projects that will benefit residents. Takele said the decision comes after conducting sufficient assessment as per the law. Lack of organized and clear information about the owners of the areas that left idle for many years were challenges observed during the assessment. Takele said that similar assessments will be conducted on sites that have not developed so far.