The operatives of Awka Capital Territory Development Agency (ACTDA), on Wednesday, demolished a shrine and stores of traders doing business at the Government Residential Area (GRA), behind the State Government House along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway Awka.
The demolishing exercise which started at about 9:47 am and was supervised by the Agency’s Enforcement Commandant, Mr. Okonkwo Ukachukwu, also extended to other parts of the State capital where many of the illegal structures marked with warning notices by the agency were equally destroyed for flaunting the order.
Other hubs affected by Wednesday’s demolition include; Zenith Hospital and the Maternity gate at Inezu Phase 2 Okpouno-Awka.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the exercise, the Enforcement Commandant, Mr Okonkwo Ukachukwu, said what the agency is currently doing is a development control which is in line with Governor Chukwukuma Soludo’s vision of making Awka a smart mega city in Nigeria.
According to him, GRA is a residential area and not a commercial centre, saying that people residing in the area are gradually trying to turn their walls into shops and other businesses which is not part of the master plan of the area.
“The demolished shrine was built on top of drainage which also posed fears among residents in the area.
“GRA is a purely residential area and not for activities of this nature.
“In the case of the Zenith Hospital gate, we demolished the entrance gate because the owner is building it without ACTDA approval.”
Mr Ukachukwu, therefore, appealed to Awka residents to always obey Government authority to avoid such incidents in future.
It was observed that all the demolished strictures have a removal marked notice placed at the walls and entrance gates with warning dates of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th July 2024 respectively.
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