In an opinion-dividing move, the Anambra State Government pulled down over 2,000 shops located on Niger Street, Fegge, in Onitsha South Local Government Area.
This demolition came days after a building collapsed on Basden Street, Fegge, raising concerns about the safety of structures in the area.
The demolished shops were used by petty traders and members of the Sand Miners Association of Anambra State, who stored equipment and operated from these locations.
According to reports, over 4000 people were affected by the demolition exercise which caused millions of naira worth of damage to goods and equipment.
The illegal structures were built by traders who allegedly got the approval of the National Inland Water Ways (NIWA), but the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, stated during a recent visit to the area that NIWA does not have the right to build or allocate spaces to traders on Anambra land.
Soludo said: “The code or bye-laws establishing NIWA gave the organization 100 metres from the banks of the River Niger as right of easement but what we are seeing here are illegal structures and should be demolished.”
While talking to reporters and the displaced individuals, the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Emeka Orji, who supervised the demolition, said he was acting on the orders of the state governor after the incessant building collapse in the area.
Orji said: “A notice was issued as regards the demolition and it was followed by series of follow up notices but they disobeyed.
“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.
“Everywhere cannot be market 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.”
Traders have however expressed shock and anger over lack of prior warning, claiming they were given no time to pack their belongings. Chief Okechukwu Okoye, Manager of Lake Petroleum Limited, a company that lost over 130 shops, has denied claims that the structures were illegal. Okoye asserted that they got the necessary licenses from relevant federal agencies.
Okoye said: “We did not erect any illegal structures here; all the structures were legally registered and approved by the relevant government agencies and the appropriate payment made. It is therefore a surprise to us when they stormed the place and started demolishing without any prior notice.”
