Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led Anambra State Government has resumed the demolition of houses and destruction of properties in some parts of Awka, the state capital.
This comes a few days after the State House of Assembly election in the state.
The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) resumed the demolition exercise on Wednesday with over 100 shops, hotels, and residential apartments, located along Oby Okoli Avenue affected.
The affected areas stretch from the popular UNIZIK Temporary Site Junction in Awka to Okpuno village within the capital city with several Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of various commercial banks, churches and some other marked structures in the area crushed to rubble.
The ACTDA was said to have marked the affected structures and facilities for demolition with seven days’ notices given to the owners to vacate the places before January 25, 2023. But following a public outcry, the deadline was extended for about a month with the demolition resuming three days before the extended deadline.
It was gathered that over 80 shops, residential houses and other structures have been demolished.
When approached by a journalist, Izunna Okafor, for an interview to understand the reason behind the demolition exercise, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Mr. Ossy Onuko, said he did not have any business with the media and directed him to Governor Soludo or the contractor.
“Please, please, I don’t have any business with the media; allow me to do my job, please. If you want an interview, go and meet the governor or the contractor,” he said.
But another top official of ACTDA who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The government wants to make the road to be double lane, and that is why you see this massive destruction, to create more space for the road.”
Meanwhile, it was observed that ACTDA skipped some buildings and structures in the affected area.
It was observed that a commercial toilet facility constructed by ACTDA along the starting point of the demolition at the UNIZIK Temporary Site Junction was not demolished while other structures along the same line were demolished.