From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) has commenced it’s threat to destroy all illegal structures that are not originally in Enugu metropolis master plan which are defacing the beauty of the city.
The destruction of the obstructions began on Monday,January 6 after the notice given by ECTDA authorities currently under the leadership of Mr Ken Onoh expired.
The AUTHORITY monitor of the exercise yesterday observed that the front fence of the office of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) located at Rsngers avenue Independence layout ,was affected.
Other areas that were pulled down with bulldozer under the instruction of ECTDA, monitored by it’s officials were the upholstery workshops located along the streets of Bishop Anyiogu,Bishop Okoye,Adelabu and others within Uwani axis of the metropolis, originally meant for residential areas.
Equally to be affected in the exercise are iron rods and building material dealers whose trade and stock are constituting nuisance and traffic jam along Kenyata market and adjoining streets of Amawbia,Awkuzu,Timber shed road etc.
It could be recalled that the state government in partnership with Enugu South local council authorities since the past four years established a new location for Iron rod dealers at Kenyatta market at Obeagu Awkunanaw, along Enugu to Port Harcourt express road, but the iron dealers refused to relocate alleging ugly deals on the size of the stalls that were detrimental to the scope and size of their materials.
Initially,When the ECTDA commenced the exercise late last year, there was a massive outcry from the affected illegal structure owners across the city that the state government didn’t give enough notice. Their outcry compelled the state government to extend the notice to vacate till January 5.
One of the ECTDA officials involved in the execution of the ecercise,who talked to THE AUTHORITY, said they are working under instruction to pull down all illegal structures that were marked for removal.
At Bishop Aniogu street, it was observed that some of the furniture workshop owners hurriedly removing their wares even as ECTDA bulldozer was pulling down their roof.
