A recently retired Papua New Guinea Defense Force Soldier on Friday announced his intention to compete in the National General Elections 2022 in the National Capital District.

Chief Warrant Officer, Allan Nanguromo made the announcement in front of family and close friends.

“I have reached the pinnacle of my career in the military, securing the highest rank in the Non Commissioned Officers rank and file.

“It’s now time for me to move on, ” he said.

Nanguromo has spent over thirty seven years with the Papua New Guinea Defense Force.

He joined the force in the 80s’ as a young private and made his way up the ranks.

Chief Warrant Officer is the highest rank among the Non Commissioned Officers rank and file.

The conviction to contest the National General Elections 2022 sprung from reflections on what the future will be like for today’s children.

“Countless leaders have come up with policies after policies that they haven’t lived up to.

“The number of youths who are unemployed continue to rise as we don’t have a plan for them.

“We need to start planning the future of the children who are currently in primary schools.

“We have plans but you can only do so much. Getting into parliament is the only way to push these plans and help secure a sound future for the future generation of PNG.

Nanguromo will contest the Moresby North West Electorate with the theme “For the Children of Tomorrow”.

Funding of K8 million has been committed by the National Government to build a road linking Maramuni in Enga Province and Karawari in East Sepik Province.

The announcement by Prime Minister James Marape comes three weeks before the Issuing of Writs for the 2022 National Elections.

Speaking at the launching of yet another road link connection Maramuni and Wabag in Enga, PM Marape said his Government is connecting rural Papua New Guinea like never before under its signature ‘Connect PNG’ program.

“We are trying to connect all rural areas right throughout the country, in this year’s Budget, we have allocations for 163 roads throughout the country,” PM Marape said.

The 57km road linking Maramuni and Wabag crosses some of the most-rugged and difficult terrains in the country and was done at minimal costs by the Wabag District Development Authority (DDA) and Enga Provincial Government.

The Maramuni Health Centre Project was also launched during PM’s visit.

Nambawan Super Limited (NSL) has finally received a physical title over a portion of land for which it has been fending off ownership claims over the last two decades.

Lands Minister, John Rosso, presented the title to portion 2158 at 9-mile to the Deputy NSL Chairperson, Dame Meg Taylor, marking an end to one chapter over the 20-year long dispute.

The presentation follows a court decision in 2020 which, basically, recognized the superfund as the legitimate owner of the land portion.

Minister Rosso said this will pave way for the possibility of new housing for NSL members if the fund decides to go that route. But he has also, called for NSL to work in partnership with NCDC to relocate settlers currently living on the land.

“We have had 10 meetings with NSL to make sure all stakeholders are involved to get a win-win for everyone. The title should be restored to NSL and we also have to deal with the people residing on that land.

“So I’ve encouraged NSL to talk to NCDC and to find a win-win for those particular parcels of land.”

NSL has also had to battle against the inefficiencies within the lands department over the last 20 years which prevented the official recognition of the superfund as legal landowners.

Even after the court ruled in their favor, it took another year before the matter was finally actioned by the Lands Minister.

“We’ve worked very closely with the Lands Department, the NCDC and the Member of Parliament for Moresby North East to look at how you deal with people who have settled on this land.” said Deputy Chairperson, Dame Meg Taylor.

“They are citizens of this country and NSL is very sensitive to this and there has been a lot of consultation.”

Nambawan Super Limited legally owns three other land portions – 2156, 2157, 2159. The fund says any future development on the land will be discussed in detail.

However, there’s the possibility of the fund, with the ability it now has, to infuse the current housing market with more affordable housing for its members and others who may be interested.

It is something they will decide on later.

This is one of three important title handovers this year.

The first was for the Development of the Tuhava township where Roku landowners received a land title over the Tuhava township. Newcrest Mining also received a land title for the state land it owns which will be used for the development of a new township and the resettlement of local people displaced by the mine.