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Abia State Government says it has commenced the demolition of unauthorised residential structures built within the former Umuahia market premises without government approval.
A statement made available to newsmen on Monday by the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), said this is in line with the Abia State Government’s vision to transform Umuahia into a modern city and befitting capital.
According to the State Government, the former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration for the purpose of building an Event Centre on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis.
The State Government however, revealed that the investor unilaterally repurposed the space and started developing residential duplexes and apartments, contrary to the government’s planned purpose.
In the statement, the Abia State government insisted that as a responsible and business friendly administration, she has been engaging the investor for the past one year and has offered him a negotiated ex-gratia settlement.
She stated that the Government has taken over the space to repurpose it as part of a modern transportation hub, integrating the bus terminal, train station, and intercity shuttles connection point, adding that the structures demolished were deemed unfit for the established purpose of over-riding public interest.
In the statement, the UCDA reaffirmed it’s commitment to ensuring that the new transportation hub enhances the city’s infrastructure, promotes efficient mobility, and contributes to the overall economic growth of Umuahia as a modern capital city.
The Abia State Government also reassured Abians that it remains steadfast in its commitment to transforming Umuahia into a world-class city, reiterating that this project is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
While emphasizing the importance of the project, the State Government said the development of an integrated transportation hub is expected to bring numerous benefits to the citizens of Abia State, including improved traffic management, enhanced safety and increased economic opportunities.
The statement reads in part: “In line with the Abia State Government’s vision to transform Umuahia into a modern city and befitting capital, the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) has commenced the demolition of unauthorised residential structures built within the former Umuahia market premises without government approval.
“The former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration for the purpose of building an Event Centre on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis. However, the investor unilaterally repurposed the space and started developing residential duplexes and apartments, contrary to the government’s planned purpose for the space.”
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