Officials of Umuahia Capital Development Authority on Wednesday began the demolition of illegal structures and attachments to buildings within the Abia capital.
A correspondent of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise on some streets, reports that a bulldozer was seen pulling down structures, while shop owners hurriedly packed their goods.
Mrs Ijeoma Ndukwe, a tailor who was seen packing clothing materials from her shop at Warri Street by Calabar Street, told NAN that the government did not give them prior notice before commencing the demolition.
“Nobody in Umuahia is against the development programme of government; what we are complaining about is the way and manner enforcement agents took people by surprise.
“What you are seeing are materials people brought for me to sew and they have all been damaged because no notice was served for us to remove our things.”
Ndukwe claimed she took her sick daughter to the hospital and a friend telephoned to inform her that a bulldozer was pulling down her shop.
She described the damage of her shop as “a big shock”.
A trader, who deals on electrical materials, seen packing his goods from his shop, told NAN that bulbs and other materials worth thousands of naira were damaged.
A man in an official vehicle with the inscription Umuahia Capital Development Authority, declined to give reasons why the traders were not given prior notice before the commencement of the exercise.
“If you are a pressman go to Government House and ask the governor for explanation.
“I do not have any reason to give,’’ he told NAN.
Several attempts made by NAN to seek the views of Mr Eze Chikamnayo, the Commissioner for Information, proved abortive. (NAN)
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