Over three hundred illegal structures and five plazas built as shops were demolished on Monday by the Onitsha South local government council.
The illegal structures were said to have been built by traders who allegedly got the approval of the National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA), and Gov. Charles Soludo stated that the organisation does not have the right to build or allocate spaces to traders.
Recall that Gov Soludo, during the inspection of roads constructed by his administration, ordered the Onitsha South local government Chairman, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji, to demolish the illegal structures, as according to him, the land belongs to Anambra state and not NIWA
“The code or bye-laws establishing NIWA gave the organisation 100 metres from the banks of the River Niger as a right of easement, but what we are seeing here are illegal structures that should be demolished,” he said.
This development is coming as the state government has declared war on illegal structures following the collapse of a five-story building at Fegge in the same council area.
The area, which spans up to two acres of land, resides on the fringe of the River Niger, housing shanty settlements of street urchins credited with being a harbinger of hoodlums.
While the demolition was going on, the Hausa Community in the area, led by the Secretary of the Hausa Community in Onitsha North local South local government areas, Alhaji Ishawu Imam, whose father is the Sariki of the Hausa Community, expressed appreciation that the Council Chairman gave them time like he gave other residents to move out of their property, adding that the Hausa Community in Onitsha South is happy with the developmental status of the Gov. Soludo administration and pledging to continue to support him.
According to the Chairman of the Onitsha South local government area, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji, who was at the site to supervise the demolition,
“When I was sworn in as Council Chairman last year, I came here and issued them notice to move out and the notice was followed by a series of follow-up notices but they remained here.”
“Then last week, Mr Governor came here and told them that this place is not for shops or markets and ordered me to demolish the area, but I gave them another one-week notice, which ended today,” he said.
The area, according to Orji, would be barricaded and cleared for the establishment of a seaside resort, which would have green park areas with umbrella trees for relaxation and amusement.
Reacting to the collapsed five-story building in the area, Orji announced that most buildings currently under construction would be subjected to an integrity test, which includes a material test and a qualification test, adding that after meeting with the Chairman of the Physical Planning Board in Awka, the government would commence the process.
“Everywhere cannot be marketable in Onitsha, and we have declared war on illegal structures, and we shall ensure that the right thing is done about building collapse in Onitsha South local government area,” he said.
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