On Saturday, the Anambra State Government destroyed buildings and shanties in a few different locations.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the enforcement team of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board carried out the destroying activity (ANSPPB).
According to reports, the enforcement team tore down shanties in the state’s Woliwo, Port Harcourt Road, Onitsha, and Nkwelle Ezunaka regions.
The activity was alleged to have taken place in response to the claim that a dishonest developer had taken control of the places and turned them into a market hidden beneath high tension wires.
In a conversation with Newsmen, several workout sufferers alleged that it had been more than 15 years since they had paid the developer for the area.
One of the traders identified as Pastor Ukoha, accused the government of lack of empathy for poor masses trading in the affected areas.
He said: “I just finished developing small structures to help my business, I got approval after paying the landlord and local government authorities.
“This is the third time government is doing this thing to us and it’s not good, I am very very disappointed with the present government.”
Another trader who didn’t give his name noted that “We were not served notice. I was on my way when I got a call to come and remove my property before the structure is demolished.
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“Just few weeks ago, I spent over N200,000 to put up this structure. We wouldn’t have lost so much. Though I don’t know the name of the landlord but we paid him. We’ve been here for over 40years.”
In response to the demolition exercise, the Chairman of the ANSPPB, Barr. Chike Mmaduekwe, stated that unlicensed developers should refrain from constructing in such locations without permission from the government.
He said that the state governor Chukwuma Soludo’s goal of creating a livable and flourishing nation was undermined by the illicit operations of these developers.
He said, “Whether they’ve been there for 100years is immaterial as long as they’re commiting an illegality. That land belongs to the government. It used to be an open space before government de-zoned it.
“I actually blame the rightful owners. If you dont put up structures there, someone else will start selling the land to innocent people who probably are bonafide purchasers of right without notice.
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“The truth is that they were severely warned with notice. This should be the third time. Each time you come and mark it, some individuals who claim to be influential will oppose the move.
“In fact, one of them who blocked a waterway within the area has been using all forms of arms and intimidation to put innocent market women there.”
“There’s no place we carried out enforcement they won’t tell you there was no notice. If you watch the walls, they’ve been marked, some as early as last year.
“Let them go and negotiate with the landowners if they want to be there. Government can’t afford to tolerate rightful owners of land being intimidated unnecessarily.
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“We’ve been arresting culprits and we’re taking a lot of them to court next week. When they’re convicted and jailed, we recover the cost of the enforcement,” Mmaduekwe added.
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