Umuahia: Abia Govt gives landlords 14 days to remove projections, attachments to buildings

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L-R :Special Adviser to the Governor on Media & Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, Commissioner for Information & Culture, Prince Okey Kanu and Commissioner for Budget &Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, during Monday’s briefing at Government House, Umuahia 

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The Abia State Government has issued a 14-day ultimatum to landlords within Umuahia Capital Territory to remove projections, illegal expansions or attachments added to their buildings, as well structures built on drainages and walkways.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, who announced the ultimatum while briefing newsmen at Government House, Umuahia, on resolutions reached by the State Executive Council during its weekly meeting held on Monday, also announced that Governor Alex Otti would on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, flag-off the reconstruction of Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba–Ohafia road, the major route to Abia North senatorial district.

The Commissioner equally disclosed that the Executive Council approved the setting up of a single, multi-purpose taskforce, thereby abolishing multiple taskforces which hitherto operated in the state.

Kanu said that government would embark on demolition of extensions, expansions and structures built on drainages and walkways at the expiration of the 14 days period, explaining that the step was to give Umuahia a facelift and befitting status as a state capital.

“Government has given enough time for the owners of the affected buildings to remove the extensions and attachments to their buildings. After the two weeks extra notice, government will not have any other option than to embark on the enforcement of the order.
“We want to urge the house owners to use their houses for the purpose for which approval was given to them, either commercial or residential,” the Commissioner said.
Speaking on the proposed demolition exercise, the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr Kingsley Agomuo, said that affected illegal structures were identified since November last year while government has already engaged the owners of the structures, insisting that there was no going back on the two weeks deadline given by government.
The Commissioner for Information further said that three companies would handle the reconstruction of the dilapidated Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia road, abandoned for a very long time. According to the Commissioner, the road has been divided into three sections among the three major contractors: Craneburg would reconstruct the Umuahia-Uzuakoli stretch, Ferotex would execute the Uzuakoli-Akara Isuikwuato axis while China Civil Engineering Construction Company is to handle the Abiriba-Ohafia section.
Prince Kanu also announced that Government was embarking on maintenance of 22 new roads across the state, adding that three new roads namely: Umuode, Bakassi and Umuehilegbu, all within the proximity of Ariaria International Market have been procured and ready for rehabilitation .
He said that the rehabilitation of the three new roads underscores the importance the present administration attached to developing infrastructure, especially as it concerns promotion of commerce and industry in the state.

Prince Okey Kanu also announced that Government has outlawed multiple Task Forces in the state. He said that a new single, multiple-purpose outfit would soon be set up, after which government would crack down on people indulging in illegal task force activities.
Also Speaking on the activities of touts in Aba and Umuahia, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, warned that drastic measures would be taken against anybody caught molesting or harassing people over issues concerning taxes and other levies as government has kept its promise that it would not use touts to collect revenues in the state.
They noted that collection of government approved levies and taxes revenues has been computerized and are paid electronically.

Ekeoma also used the forum to explain government’s move to purchase vehicles valued at N13 billion, saying that the vehicles would be deployed to the Ministries, Departments and agencies, stressing that they were not for the personal use of the Governor.