Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo says the demolition of religious facility belonging to Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje was in line with the government’s ongoing environmental restoration initiative aimed at making Onitsha and Anambra a liveable state.
The governor explained in a press statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, that Odumeje and other owners of illegal structures in the commercial metropolis were given due notices of the impending exercise which commenced on July 7 in Onitsha.
According to him, the demolition exercise was not targeted at any particular persons or groups.
“It is in line with the move to recover the master plan of Onitsha and other cities in the state that have been serially abused and turned to slums”, he said.
Aburime further disclosed that the crackdown on illegal structures was launched by the state government following the expiration of the notice served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, since April 2022, more than two months ago, Anambra state government has commenced demolition of such illegal structures.
He explained further: “The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha. The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences. The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners served notice to remove them”, he said while assuming builders and developers on appropriate sites to “go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation.”
