Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government has explained why it embarked on the demolition of unauthorized structures built at the premises of the old site of Umuahia Main Market.
This was contained in a statement issued by the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr. Kingsley Agomoh.
According to the statement, the action was in line with the “government’s vision to transform Umuahia into a modern city and befitting capital.”
The statement noted that the former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration for the purpose of building an event centre on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) basis.
However, the investor, according to the statement, “unilaterally repurposed the space and started developing residential duplexes and apartments, contrary to the government’s planned purpose for the space.”
The statement further read: “As a responsible and business-friendly administration, the government has been engaging the investor for the past one year and has offered a negotiated ex-gratia settlement to the investor.
“The government has taken over the space to repurpose it as part of a modern transportation hub, integrating the bus terminal, train station, and intercity shuttles connection point.
“The structures demolished were deemed unfit for the established purpose of overriding public interest.”
Continuing, it read: “The UCDA is committed to ensuring that the new transportation hub enhances the city’s infrastructure, promotes efficient mobility, and contributes to the overall economic growth of Umuahia as a modern capital city.
“The Abia State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to transforming Umuahia into a world-class city, and this project is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
“The development of an integrated transportation hub is expected to bring numerous benefits to the citizens of Abia State, including improved traffic management, enhanced safety, and increased economic opportunities.”
