30 Addu properties seized during Nasheed’s administration returned

30 plots of land near the Addu City’s Equatorial Convention Center (ECC) which were seized during former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration have been returned to the original owners.

Senior Policy Executive at the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure, Abdulla Ziyad reported to “Sun” that 30 plots of land seized during Nasheed’s administration were returned by last Thursday.

Ziyad said some 700 properties were seized from Addu City citizens during Nasheed’s administration, all of which will be returned to their rightful owners by the end of this July.

He said the properties have been cleaned and are ready to be returned.

Nasheed’s administration seized the land around ECC to develop the area as a tourist zone.

Ziyad said neither the Nasheed’s administration nor the Addu City Council had considered giving the owners of the properties compensation.

“The incumbent President seized power from the council, listened to our complaints, and based on those complaints, the President made the decision to make a policy for this and return the properties to its owners,” said Ziyad.