Taskforce Demolishes Illegal Structures At Okujagu Link Road

The Rivers State
taskforce on the demolition of illegal structures, has cleared scavengers and squatters at the Professor Okujagu link road, Trans/Amadi.
Chairman of the Taskforce Mr Mina Aprioku, told newsmen during the exercise, that the scavenger and squatters have constituted nuisance in the area.
Mr Aprioku said that the proliferations of shanties and other illegal structures along the road, was posing serious  security challenges to both companies and residents of the area.
He also said that the situation was scaring away potential investors as most property owners on the road refused to develop them. According to him, the committee is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that those evicted nolonger find their way back to the road to continue with their business.
Mr Aprioku also denied the allegation that his committee collected N50,000 from the squatters to facilitate a meeting between them and the Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning.
Also speaking with newsmen, vice chairman of the union, Professor Okujagu link road, Murtala Bala denied that their activities were posing serious security challenges in the area.
Bala claimed that  members of his union have always worked with the police to apprehend criminals in the area.
He pleaded with the state governor, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to  intervene as they have no other place to carry out their business, adding that the union is ready to work with the authority to ensure decency  in the area.
Also speaking, a shop owner, Mr Collins Pesonwu  accused the taskforce of betrayal after collecting N50,000 from the traders.
Mr Pesonwu also claimed that he lost over N500,000 in the demolition as shop and belongings were set ablaze.
According to him, over 200 traders affected in the incident have lost property worth millions of naira.
Representatives of companies operating along the road said that the demolition will bring sanity to the area as the activities  of the scavengers was threatening investments in the area.
They pledged the companies willingness to partner with the state government to rehabilitate the road.