From Uchenna Ezeadigwe
Awka
Following the order from the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), led by the Managing Director of the agency, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, to remove shanties and dislodged roadside traders doing businesses on unauthorized positions in Awka, owners of these shanties have cried out for help
News Echo Correspondent who monitored the exercise carried out by the development control officers of the agency noticed that the operation is a method that has been adopted by the agency to regularly check the proliferation of shanties and roadside businesses across the state capital.
The exercise which began few weeks ago had touched parts of Arroma Junction, to Regina Ceali axis, UNIZIK Temp Site, Kwata, Amawbia Junctions and G.R.A Agu-Awka
The agency also marked buildings sited on unauthorized positions for demolition while households and traders whose surroundings have overgrown grasses were directed to clean up their environment or risk sanctions. Posters defacing major places across the city were also removed.
Meanwhile some of the affected traders who spoke to our correspondent lamented that no notice was given to them before demolition while some said their only source of income has been taken away from them.
According to Mrs. Nkechi Oji, a mother of four and widow cried bitterly that her shop is the only revenue that puts food on her table and means of catering for her children’s needs after the demise of her husband late last year.
Meanwhile, Commenting on the exercise, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Venerable Okwuosa said that the agency is stopping at nothing in achieving its set target of making Awka a pristine twenty-first century city in line with Governor Willie Obiano’s developmental vision.
He said that the exercise which is continuing for the next fourteen days is a regular schedule to see that both those erecting structures on unapproved areas and those trading on unauthorized positions are made to desist for good.
