*Say no compensation nor notice before demolition
*Insist they are stranded, goods outside, nowhere to pack them
*We gave them 3 years notice, says works commissioner
By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Traders and landlords in Abakaliki the capital of Ebonyi State are counting loses, following the ongoing demolition of shops and residential buildings along Ogoja Road and Vanco Junction.
It was gathered that government wants to build flyover at the popular Ogoja Road and Vanco junction, which led to the demolition.
However, traders and landlords that inhabit that area are lamenting bitterly over the level of damages and loses they have incured over the sudden demolition, saying that the are stranded and don’t know what to do.
In an interview with some of the affected traders in the area who gave their names as Anayo and Chimezie, they lamented bitterly over the sudden demolition of their shops without any valid notice to that effect, saying that their goods are outside since they don’t know where to pack them.
They further noted that no form of compensation has been given to them by government, but only forms were submitted.
“Is not as if we don’t like development ,but this demolition affected me a lot because there was no single information nor notice given to us to vacate this place before this demolition. See how everybody is running helter skelter; some even sustained injuries. We don’t even have a place to pack our goods. We are not happy at all.
“Nobody is happy about what is happening here. We are not saying that development is not good, but we should have been given notice and compensation to enable us vacate before this. What pains me most is that no notice was given to us to pack our goods out. Almost everybody you are seeing here is stranded,” the traders lamemted.
When contacted for his reaction, the Commissioner for Works and Transport in Ebonyi State, Engr. Lebechi Mbam said the allegations from the traders are false because government gave them three years notice before going to demolish those shops and residential buildings.
Concerning compensation, he said all landlords in the area have been directed to go to the Ministry of Works for documentation.
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