By Okey Maduforo Awka
All markets and plazas in Anambra state that fail to desilt their drains and water channels in from of their business premises would be sealed off.
This is coming as the state government through the Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra Ocha Brigade has issued a seven day ultimatum to the owners of markets , parks and plazas to clean up their business premises.
Similarly government has insisted that there is no going back on the mass demolition of shanties along Awka – Onitsha express way dismissing allegations that operatives of Ocha Brigade have been going about extorting money from unsuspecting owners of the shanties.
According to the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade Mr Celestine Anere
“We have issued the third remind notice to all the markets and plazas to clean up their gotta and drains and this one is a seven day ultimatum and any plaza or markets that fails to comply would be sealed off indefinitely ”
“There the need for us to be serious with our environmental laws and we are not going back on that “,
Continuing Anere dismissed allegations that some people who claim to be staff of the agency have been extorting money from unsuspecting owners of shanties along Awka – Onitsha express way stating that;
“This is not true and we cannot be blackmailed because we are going to take delivery of machines for the demolition exicise and we have taken delivery of trucks and tippers for that ”
“I will personally be in charge of the demolition and anyone that comes to extort money from them should be apprehended and take their pictures ” he said
According to an initial release by the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade Mr Celestine Anere the affected traders are advised to remove those illegal structures and their goods before the commencement of the demolition.
“It is the intention of the State Government to bring to public knowledge it’s decision to expunge and rid the entire stretch of road from Amansea axis of the Federal highway all through down to Bridge head, Onitsha metropolis, of shanties and attachments either side of the Enugu/Onitsha road”
“Traders on either side of the long stretch are advised to start the dismantling and evacuation of all shanties and structures on the said road”
“The State Government will frown and subsequently wield the big stick against any defaulter of this directive”he said.
