Àba residents living in illegal structures and shanties blocking drainage channels have been directed to vacate the buildings before demolitions of such buildings commences.

The directive is coming from the Abia State Executive Council (EXCO) and is a follow-up to the hint earlier dropped by Governor Theodore Orji, who last fortnight declared that flood control is central to arresting infrastructural dilapidation in the famed commercial city in south-east Nigeria.

Orji, while briefing newsmen at Banquet Hall of Government House September 3, had revealed that there were about 1,800 houses built along waterways in Aba, adding that the buildings would be demolished when opening up of the drainages commences immediately after the rains.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Eze Chikamnayo, said the state EXCO at its meeting of last Wednesday deliberated on the issue and condemned indiscriminate building of structures on drain channels and obstruction of water ways while applauding measure being taken by government to ensure “that flooding in Aba is completely checked.”

“In this regard, Exco thanked the Governor, Chief T.A. Orji, for his resolve to demolish such illegal structures in order to give Aba residents the desired respite from the menace of perennial flooding and urged Aba residents to voluntarily vacate from all such shanties and illegal structures before the task force set up by government moves in,” Chikamnayo said in a statement made available to News Express in Umuahia, the state capital.

The commissioner also disclosed that a new site for butchers in Aba has been acquired at Ahiaudele adding that the butchers would soon be relocated from Aba waterside where they currently operate, to give way for the dredging of Aba River.

“Government will proceed to provide necessary utilities in the new site as well as partner with the traders and other private investors to erect the stores. This will be followed by the final movement of the traders and other auxiliary traders to the new site,” the statement added.

The EXCO, according to Chikamnayo, reviewed the reopening of Osisioma Depot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“By revamping this critical hub, Governor T.A. Orji demonstrated his love for Abians whose source of livelihood has been restored. Furthermore, the re-opening of the depot has a spiral effect on economic activities in Aba and environs. EXCO also commended the governor for institutionalising the security apparatus necessary for sustenance of the security of the pipelines from unscrupulous vandals,” the commissioner stated.

Government, he added, has engaged professionals to commence the process of relocation of some faculties of Abia State University (ABSU) to Umuahia by producing detailed architectural plans for the faculty buildings and other structures in the new site while Exco approved the establishment of Abia State Project ImplementationUnit (SPUI) of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) as well as the release of funds to the agency for urgent construction of rural roads.

“When established, the SPIU will work in partnership with RAMP and other development partners to actualise 130.9km rural roads in the first instance and 500km rural roads before the end of 2013,” the statement explained.

Chikamnayo further stated that EXCO approved the engagement of a consultant/company to generate revenue data base for the state while it commended efforts of the Ministry of Transport in closing illegal motor parks and directed Commissioner for Transport, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai, to put all necessary measures in place to sustain the success already achieved.

*Photo: Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji.