Authority Justifies Demolition Exercise

The Chairman of Owerri Capital Development Authority, Rev. Israel Ayozie, says the current demolition of structures in Owerri is to ensure adherence to the city’s master plan.

Ayozie said in Owerri that the demolition would only affect structures located in areas designated in the master plan as green areas, parks and sewage lines.

The chairman said that owners of the affected buildings had been compensated, adding that some of them received cash while others were allocated new plots.

“The authority had invited all the landlords and explained government’s decision to demolish the affected areas before the exercise began”, he said.

The chairman directed those who were yet to collect their compensation to liaise with the Ministry of Land.

He also advised residents to always obtain permits from the agency before embarking on any construction work in the metropolis to avoid the demolition of their buildings.

“Governor Rochas Okorocha is not a man who has the spirit of destroying people’s property, we want to restore Imo to its original state as it was in the days of late governor Sam Mbakwe.’’

Valentine Nduka