Abia State Government Clears Air On Demolition Of Shanties

Umuahia —The Abia State government says the demolition of shanties in Umuahia metropolis and its environs is part of broader efforts aimed at riding the city of criminal elements.

The Chairman of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, Kingsley Agumuoh made the clarification on Thursday while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Umuahia.

Agomuoh, who was reacting to the rumour that the demolition carried out in Afara area of Umuahia was orchestrated by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, aimed at land grabbing, described the rumour as false, misleading and urged the public to disregard it.

“Apart from giving the Umuahia Capital City a face-lift, those shanties also serve as hideouts from criminal elements and drug peddlers”.

“What we are doing is in line with the vision of the present administration in Abia, led by His Excellency Dr Alex Otti to improve the aesthetics of the city”.

“The shanties constitute a nuisance and I eyesore in the city. Look at the one we did around the ShopRite area, the whole place looked very bad but now, the place is clear and looks good”.

“Those shanties were used to peddle hard drugs, criminals hide there to perpetrate their evil acts”.

“By demolishing those shanties, the criminals won’t have a place to hide”.

“The government is working hard to improve security and that is part of the broader efforts aimed at riding the city of criminals and curb xriminality”.

“We did the same thing in Ubakala and those ones in front of the new bus terminal. Go there now and see how beautiful the place looks. We now have better access to the bus terminal”.

“So anybody saying the Deputy Governor is behind the one at Afara is just trying to sow a seed of disaffection and cause tension”.

“I was there when the people came there, none of them could point out the house they alleged was owned by the Deputy Governor. It is quite unfortunate that people will just wake up and create such false information and begin to spread it to the public”.

After we demolished the one along ShopRite area, the youths from Amuzukwu wrote us a letter of commendation and pleaded that we continue.

Not everybody will appreciate what we are doing.

“Did you know that some of the places where the shanties, were situated we’re done without the knowledge of the land owner?”

Those property agents will just give the traders small spaces and collect money.

The UCDA boss further assured Abia citizens and residents of the agency’s continued efforts in improving the aesthetics of the city.