The Ebonyi government, on Monday, indicated that it will begin the demolition of illegal structures in the capital city, Abakaliki.

Sunday Inyima, the commissioner for capital city development, told journalists in Abakaliki that the affected residential buildings and shops would include all those structures built without laid-down physical planning standards.

Mr Inyima, who fixed Feb. 15 for the commencement of the exercise, noted that the state government is committed to promoting good governance for the people.

“Let me inform the general public that the State Ministry of Capital City Development will commence demolition of illegal structures within Abakaliki from Feb. 15.

“The exercise will start from illegal structures already marked along Water Works Road and Hausa Quarters Area.

“The property owners and developers have been served with demolition notices, and we advised them to remove those structures.

“We have informed the House Community. They are complying and assured that they will help the government in removing them by themselves.

“It will also affect all the slums and other informal business centres in those areas,” he stated.

On the reason for the exercise, the commissioner said it was aimed at enabling proper planning of the streets and beautification of the capital city.

“The government wants Abakaliki to look cleaner and beautiful like every other big city across the country,” Mr Inyima added.

Also speaking, Danjuma Gambo, Sarki of the Hausa community in Abakaliki, commended the state government for the early notification of the exercise.

“I have been meeting with our people, and they are all in support of the exercise. We are going to join the government in removing the slums and modern structures will be erected as planned,” Mr Gambo said.

(NAN)