Demolition : We Got Approval from Anambra State Physical Planning Board -Traders Insist
By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
Traders under the aegis of UBA Planks and Joist Association, Bridge-Head Market Onitsha, Anambra State have insisted that they got approval from Anambra State Physical Planning Board before building their plaza that was pulled down by the Transition Committee chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area .
They also debunked stories making round that the Transition Committee Chairman gave notice and reminders before the demolition of the plaza.
It would be recalled that the traders recently threatened to sue the Anambra State Government and Onitsha South Local Government Area for for demolition the plazas worth over a billion Naira.
They also called on the State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Care-taker Committee Chairman to rebuild the plaza pulled down by his agents and proxies..
Presenting documents to buttress their claims to newsmen in Onitsha yesterday the financial Secretary of the association, Hon. Nnamdi Nnayelugo, said there is no way they would build structures without getting approval from relevant state government authorities.
Some of the documents he presented included; Notice of provisional Approval of Building Plan Application No ANS PPB/DA/HQS/DCD/1849/130/21 dated December 14, 2021 and signed by TpL Ikedigwe A.F, Provisional Approval of Building plan from Anambra Sttate Physical Planning Board ( ANSPPB) No. DA/HQS/DCD/BP/1849/130/21 and signed by TpL Ikedigwe A.F dated February 10, 2022, payment for of five and fifty six, four naira (#566, 400) for the approval with Receipt No 11000019968 dated December 22, 2021 which was received by one Dr. David Nzekwe.
Other documents included; approval to use the attached survey with plan No. UK/AN/Misc 20/2013 and eecommendation letter signed dated November 26, 2021 and signed by Uchenna Okafor, Commissioner for Commerce and Trade under Chief Willie Obiano amongst others.
Hon. Nnayelugo added that they could not ignore government notice of demolition if they had issued any, contending that they never entertained any fear of demolition since they have all necessary documents from various government authorities before building the structures. ” We did not build the plaza in secret neither was it built at night. The former Commissioner for trade, commerce and industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi demanded for the documents of the buildings and we gave it to him and he was satisfied. But the Local Government care-taker Committee Chairman as an official of the local government failed to follow due process in carrying out the demolition of the plazas” Said the financial Secretary.
