Tension over Shops Demolition Plan at Oye Agu Market as Traders, Developers Call for Caution

By Praise Chinecherem

Traders at Oye Agu Market, Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have called for caution over the move by the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to demolish some plazas in the market.

Concerned shop owners and Developers made the call while speaking with journalists following markings and notices of removal served them by officials of the Ministry.

Officials of the Ministry led by the State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Bar Chijioke Ojukwu, had urged owners of plazas marked for demolition to remove them within two weeks or else government would move in to take action.

The Ministry insisted on the 14 day deadline for demolition to pave way for compliance with 9 metre minimum set back from the road corridors and other physical planning regulations.

Reacting, some of the shop owners expressed astonishment that the Plazas are unexpectedly being marked for demolition after they had fulfilled all government regulations.

Although, some business operators in the market admitted that the original design of the market was altered paving way for indiscriminate building of structures that contravene approved physical planning laws.

They specifically cited plazas built at the entrance of the market near First Bank building and another one built at the centre of the Car Park.

“The market was comprehensively designed with various infrastructures, including three car parks, toilets, and entrances, but some people came in and altered everything,” they said.

Chairman of the Market, Ugochukwu Nwaokaka described the Physical Planning Ministry’s claim on some of the affected plazas as inconsistent with facts available to them, noting that most of the plazas were legally approved by government.

Corroborating the views of the Chairman, Mr Ikem Obidigbo, a Property Developer and Businessman, appealed to the Ministry to reconsider its decision, insisting that they possessed valid documents supporting their claims.

“We are not happy because the marking has caused serious unrest, chaos around. Traders are panicking. The two plazas that I built were approved by the Board.

“We have made some calls, they told us to bring our approval plans to Awka. That should have been the first thing before marking. I maintained the 9 metres set back.

“Any structure that does not have approval, let them go after that particular structure. But the ones that have approval, the markings should be taken off,” he stated.

Reacting, Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area, Bar Chinedu Ononiba, urged the affected shop owners to remain calm.

He said he had noted their concerns regarding the planned demolition, assuring to relate with appropriate authorities to resolve the issue in a fair manner.

Ononiba revealed that the local government under his watch built infrastructure in the market such as traders hall, blocks of toilet and boreholes to improve sanitary condition among others.