While most Nigerians have had to contend with a myriad of socio-economic challenges, the Kaduna State Urban and Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA) has embarked on demolishing “‘illegal structures.”

A cross-section of the victims and residents described the demolition as rubbing salt into the wound.

Aliyu Sahabi, a former shop owner at the popular NAF Junction, said, “We are really now very confused as I have been operating here for close to two decades.

“As for the elderly people like us, some of us can be patient, ensure and bottle up whatever we are feeling after this demolition.

”Our concern is mainly the youths among us as some of them can stray, revert to crimes and other anti-social activities.”

Raliya Muhammad called on the state government to provide them with alternative spaces to reconvene their trading activities.

However, KASUPDA insisted that its action was aimed at sanitising the city and restoring its original master plan, according to a statement by its spokesman, Nuhu Garba.

According to KASUPDA, the affected areas were the NDA bus stop, U/Dosa area, Kawo area, Mando roundabout, Rabah road, NAF Club gate, Katuru road, Isa Kaita road, Alkali road, Babban Saura area(Millennium City), T/Wada area, Barnawa and High Cost Junction axis.

“The action followed after public announcements on media, sensitization visits and stakeholders’ engagement meetings. These were in order to give the affected people ample time to remove their properties as well to vacate from those places,” said KASUPDA.

It added, “Such erection of shops, containers, kiosks and signage without approvals as well as the display of wares or goods on roads setbacks were a source of concern to the environmental hazard, traffic congestion and security threat in the state.

“At the points of THE enforcement exercise, some of the defaulters confirmed that the authority had informed them. But, they stressed that poverty, socio-economic hardship in the country,non-completion of the modern markets  development project, exorbitant price of shops in the markets and neighbourhood centres made resort to such acts.”

The agency explained that other reasons advanced, including the high rate of unemployment and security challenges, as factors that led them to do such informal activities along the road setbacks in Kaduna.

“Others upheld and understood that such places were not meant for the businesses in operation but maintained that they have no other option,” it stressed.

According to KASUPDA, many victims have appealed to the government for alternative places to carry out their legal business activities before vacating the demolished areas. 

The statement, however, said KASUPDA has again solicited their usual cooperation to ensure urban sanity and a secure environment in Kaduna.

(NAN)