At least 300 illegal structures and five plazas built by traders who allegedly got approval from the authority of National Inland WaterWays, NIWA, were demolished by the Anambra state government in Onitsha South local government council.
The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo gave the order to the Onitsha South local government Chairman, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji, during the inspection tour of roads constructed by his administration.
The Governor ordered to demolish all the illegal structures, noting that the land belongs to Anambra state and not NIWA.
He said that NIWA had no right to build or allocate spaces to traders.
“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” the governor said.
This development is coming as the state government has declared war on illegal structures following the collapse of a five storey building at Fegge in the same local government district.
While the demolition was going on, the Hausa Community in the area led by the Secretary of Hausa Community in Onitsha North and South local government areas, Alhaji Ishawu Imam whose father is the Sariki of the Hausa Community expressed appreciation that the Council Chairman gave them time like other residents to remove their property.
According to him, Hausa Community in Onitsha South is happy with the developmental status of Soludo administration, pledging to continue to support him.
The Chairman of Onitsha South local government area, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji who was at the site to supervise the demolition, said that when he was sworn in as Council Chairman last year, he issued notice to them to move out.
According to the Chairman, the notice was followed by a series of follow up notices but they disobeyed.
