BY POLYCARP IFEANYI / ONITSHA
Concerned residents and landlords of Otigba Enuovuve Layout, Nkwelle -Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have petitioned the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Awka to stop the construction work on Onitsha-Otuocha Layout.
The petitioners alleged that the structure would block movement of people along the road.
The petition sent to the Chairman of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board signed by the Chairman of the Concerned members of the layout, John Okafor and Secretary, Dennis Umeh, copied to Oyi Local Government Care-taker Chairman was made available to journalists in Onitsha.
They alleged that one Chinazor Ikeayom, popularly known as Ikemba has been brazenly building block of stores on the main road without the approval of the Physical Planning Board and other relevant agencies in the state.
According to the group, they had reported the matter to Zone13 Police Command, Ukpo where he was ordered to stop work but he was said to have ignored the order, going ahead with the construction work.
He was said to have boasted that he does not bother even if the building blocked the Onitsha-Otuocha High way.
The members of the Layout said they had earlier laid their complaint to Oyi Local Government Area asking the State Physical Planning Board to beam their searchlight on the area with a view to stopping the ongoing construction of buildings on the major road.
“The entire people of Otigba Enuovuve Layout Nkwelle Ezunaka are complaining bitterly about the activities of this land grabber who has formed the habit of grabbing people’s land and erecting structures on any available space without approval”, he said.
Therefore, they appealed to the State Physical Planning Board to come to their rescue immediately and remove the offensive structures which are obstructing the major high way at the Otigba Enuovuve Layout, Nkwelle -Ezunaka.
Contacted for comment on the allegations, Ikeayom said, “I am not a land grabber and I did not erect building in unapproved place as the non-existent concerned group claimed.”
He also said that he did not block any major road, saying that he bought the portion of where he is now erecting buildings from Akpukwu family of Enuovuve and paid necessary levies to the Landlord Association.
He confirmed that Police from zone 13 Ukpo invited him but after he made statement one of his brothers bailed him. They however told him to report on June 12.
Comment here