Residents of Aba, the commercial capital of Abia state have called on Gov. Theodore Orji to sustain the ongoing efforts to rid Aba of illegal structures.
They stated that the move had become necessary to restore the Aba master plan to guard against defacing it for monetary gains.
A cross section of residents who spoke to our correspondent commended the ongoing efforts by the Abia state Taskforce on Environment and Allied Matters to rid the town of illegal structures which have become a part of the commercial city.
According to a trader at the New Market, Mr. Sunday Nweke, “The master plan of the city has been greatly distorted, we cannot continue this way. Any reasonable person must support such efforts geared towards returning the city to its lost glory. Things cannot continue like this, somebody must start the change process. We are solidly behind Ochendo to clean up the city. You have to take a look at the rate of illegal structures which have continued to deface the city. Kiosks are being erected on drainages; this is the main reason for the perennial flooding being witnessed in Aba.”
Nweke commended the governor for establishing the Taskforce which he said has recorded great achievements in sanitizing the city.
“I commend the governor. If you watch it, sanity is gradually returning to most areas of the city. The problem of indiscriminate parking of vehicles has been reduced to a great extent. I pray that the Taskforce would be supported to finish the task.”
A resident of Ogbor Hill, Mrs Loveth Nwankwo called on the Taskforce to extend its work to the area as motorists and pedestrians now find it difficult to pass through the roads due to the activities of street traders and Keke NAPEP riders who have converted the roads to their loading bays.
“We are calling on the Taskforce to come and help us at Ogbor Hill. Areas like Opobo junction and New Ehere market are no longer passable due to street trading and illegal structures,” she lamented.
On the criticisms trailing the illegal structures in the city, another resident of the city, Chief James Alozie called for the convening of town hall meetings to interact with the residents to keep them abreast of government’s effort’s at giving the city a new look.
It would be recalled that criticisms have continued to trail the demolishing of illegal structures in the Aba as street traders and operators of illegal structures posit they do not constitute nuisance to the environment.
