The Abia State Government has ordered the occupants of slums at the back of an old bicycle repair workshop behind Okigwe Park Umuahia to vacate the area before Thursday 18 April, 2024.
The government gave an ultimatum on Tuesday when the Chairman of Abia State Harmonized Taskforce and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzo Nwachukwu, led members of the Taskforce to the area.
Nwachukwu stated that the government will begin demolition of the slums by Friday this week.
He noted that the area will be cleared to accommodate all the illegal motor parks around the Isigate market axis of Umuahia.
The commissioner went further that operators of the illegal motor parks scattered around Isigate have been directed to relocate to Okigwe Motor Park, and Aba Park immediately, pending when the state government will provide a central motor park.
He made it clear that the present government is committed to end the activities of the touts, slums and providing a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
Leading the task force to Orie Ugba Market Umuahia, Nwachukwu warned that henceforth any trader using goods to block roads or drains will be sanctioned.
A member of the steering committee of the task force and General Manager of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mr Kingsley Agomoh, also vowed that the state will soon stop trading around Isigate Umuahia and adjoining streets, noting that the traders will be moved to a better place to enable government do what it intends to do at Isigate to change the status of the state capital for good.
Agomoh explained that the present administration is desirous of putting the necessary infrastructure in place for development to thrive, while calling on the traders and transporters to support state government by doing the needful for the overall development of the state.
The Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Chief Victor Ikeji and the Abia State Commissioner of police, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie had last week inspected the area which had become a den of criminals and illicit drug dealers.
While conducting the Abia State Police Commissioner round the shanties, Mayor Ikeji, stated his plan to demolish and rebuild them to accommodate motor park and market.
He noted that the Alex Otti-led administration is interested in making Umuahia and every part of Abia State befitting and safe place for people to live.
