1,800 HOUSES TO BE DEMOLISHED IN ABA

MAP OF ABA

The Abia State Government says it is set to demolish 1,800 Houses in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State.

The  State Government came out yesterday and said it would not rescind its decision to demolish about 1,800 buildings that were built on waterways in Aba.

The government urged the landlords and tenants of such buildings to start parking out.

Addressing reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ugochukwu Emezue, said the government was warning the affected owners and occupants of such buildings for the last time.

He said the government should not be blamed if it starts the demolition any time.

Emezue said several notices had been issued to building owners through the media within and outside the state.

He stressed that the government wants the residents to be aware of the exercise before it rolls out its demolition machines.

The governor’s spokesman said it is not true that the government does not have the will to go ahead with the demolition.

Emezue said: “We want to ensure that everything is put in place to avoid people hijacking it and using the period to demolish other people’s houses and causing trouble for the government.”

He denied the allegation that the government was owing its workers.

Emezue said it is only a local government area that is owed.

He explained that this happened “because of its inability to submit its workers’ payment vouchers after the biometric data capture”.

According to him, once the council complies with the biometric system, “its money is there in the bank and the workers will be paid without delay”