Imo To Lose N1 Trillion Naria From Demolitions

The Imo State Government is to lose N1 trillion naira from its ongoing plans to demolish buildings and structures in Owerri metropolis.

This startling revelation was made in Owerri by Dr. Phillip Njemanze, President, Association of General And Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMN), Imo State chapter.

Njemanze whose private specialist Hospital, Chidicon situated along MCC road, Owerri

 was partly demolished at the weekend, said it is unfortunate the Rochas Okorocha Administration is oblivious of the enormous financial loss its ongoing demolition of private properties and buildings in Owerri will incur.

He stated that Imolites should not be fooled by the rhetoric that those whose buildings were destroyed will be compensated; wondering if there is provision for such compensation in the 2013 Budget.

Njemanze told newsmen in his office that Imo people are in dire need of basic necessities of life such as water, peace and security and not demolitions that will inflict pain and misery on the suffering and despondent populace.

Njemanze recalled that there is no law backing the demolition of private properties and buildings in the State, stating that the Administration has completely disregarded the law that stipulates that all public buildings to be three metres offset from the drainages.   He said this law was later reduced to 1.8 metres by the Imo State House of Assembly.

He alleged that during the Ohakim administration, a cabal of fraudsters based in South Africa had attempted to convince the then Governor Ikedi Ohakim to go the extra mile to confiscate some property considered to be illegal and resell such properties to their friends and cronies.

Njemanze expressed regret that the same cabal has infiltrated the Okorocha Administration with the intention of implementing their hidden agenda.  He stated that some hospitals in Owerri had been marked for demolition by Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) which demanded N100, 000, a levy they rejected.  He expressed total dismay to the illegal destruction of hospitals, an act that has considerably affected the health conditions of sick patients in such hospitals

He also queried the rationale behind the dualisation of MCC and Tetlow roads in Owerri metropolis saying such attempt will lead to massive destruction of properties and historical sights of Owerri people. Njemanze added that a government that claims to derive its strength from the people has no right to inflict pain on them, in total disregard for the laws of the land.

‘There is no legal basis to destroy buildings in a state where there is so much suffering and hardship. At a time there is growing insecurity in the State’ Njemanze stated.

He also took a swipe at members of the Imo House of Assembly who have feigned ignorance of the ongoing demolition exercise that has direct bearing on the plight of the people, urging them to critically asses the competence of those who seek their votes in elections to represent them. 

The Medical Practitioner called on the good people of Owerri to resist attempts to destroy their heritage and ancestral homes and symbols under the guise of demolition to dualize roads. He added that members of his association have proceeded to the law courts to challenge the ongoing demolition exercise.