Anambra State Government has marked over fifty structures at Umuokpu-Awka Timber Market over breach of master plan and absence of approval plans.
This came after a combined team from the Anambra State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, visited the market following a reliable tip-off.
The marked structures, according to reliable sources, were allegedly erected through shady deals involving the market’s leadership.
These moves, according to local regulatory agencies, were neither authorized nor followed development procedures contained in the master plan for the market.
Speaking after the team had toured the market, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, described what is going on at the market as fraud, noting that most of the structures failed integrity test at mere sight.
Dr Ngonadi said that the market leadership must immediately provide the master plan and approval for every structure or risk having all the marked structures pulled down.
On his part, the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, said that the master plan will inform the decision of the agency on structures that do not fall within the circumference of the market.
Venerable Okwuosa stated that while the market has a period of seven days to come up with the master plan, demolition is not ruled out.
A team from ACTDA was also at Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area, where it pulled down the fencing of a property for flouting removal orders because it was obstructing an approved pathway.
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