Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, has demolished some more shanties in the capital city.
This is in living up to its mandate of giving the capital city of Anambra State a befitting status.
During the demolition exercise which was carried out along a street nicknamed Abada Lane by the residents, near the Unizik Junction axis of the Enugu—Onitsha expressway, bulldozer pulled down shanties blocking the street and evacuated the debris into a standby tipper, amid tight security.
The security and enforcement team comprised men and officers of Nigeria police, army, Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), and the ACTDA enforcement team, who witnessed and monitored the exercise, as the bulldozer cleared up the shanties and opened up the street from the other end to the newly built Akuzulora Plaza, along the Enugu—Onitsha expressway.
Speaking on the occasion, the MD/CEO, Awka Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, said the owners of the structures were issued several vacation notices since last year which they ignored or neglected.
He observed that the occupants blocked the street with shanties, which also served as hideouts for criminals who carry out their nefarious activities in the area, as well as constituted obstructions to motorists and pedestrians using the road.
He noted that the demolition would serve as deterrent to other defiant shanty owners and land developers who did not get approval from the Authority before embarking on constructions.
Venerable Okwuosa, who is also a legal practitioners, assured that the Authority will continue to carry out its lawful duties.
Reaction, one of those affected by the demolition, who simply gave her name as Francisca, lamented that she had lost everything she had, as her container and all its contents were destroyed and evacuated by the enforcement team.
Mrs. Francisca, a bread and soft drinks seller, said the demolition was sudden and most surprising to her, as she was never served any notice before the execution.
She said, “I woke up this morning and went to market to buy some things, only to come back and see that all the breads and drinks I recently bought and stored in my container have been destroyed, packed into tipper and carried away by this people. Just like that! No warning, no notice, nothing nothing; and my container and all my goods were destroyed and packed away.”
“Where will I start from now?” she continued, “why didn’t they, at least, give us warning and some days to pack out our things, if this place is actually blocking anything for them? Are they not human beings that have feelings and empathy?”
Mrs. Francisca further said she had been doing business in area since 1992, and explained that her container did not block road, as pedestrians and vehicles had been passing there freely without hindrances.
While calling for compensation, and assistance from good-spirited individuals, she, however, alleged that the demolition may have been facilitated by owners of Plazas there.
Also contributing, some residents of the area said it was only the owners of the shanties in front of the new plaza that were served notice, and further narrated that the demolition team and the bulldozer earlier concentrated on those shanties in front of the plaza, until one of the ACTDA officials signaled them to clear everything and open up the entire street.
