Landlords, residents and business owners along the every-busy Waterworks and Hilltop roads in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital have called on the state government to give them more time before the planned demolition exercise along the road following the planned dualisation of the Waterworks/Hilltop roads.
Some of the residents who spoke to LEADERSHIP said that the demolition exercise will affect businesses along the area and displace hundreds of residents and landlords whose buildings will be affected.
A business owner, Mr Charles Okafor, said, ” This is very disheartening and heartbreaking. I just moved my business from Ogoja Road down here to Hilltop because the State Government demolished many buildings along Ogoja Road a few months ago because of the Vanco Junction flyover construction.
“It’s not up to 3 months I rented this shop here and the State Government is also planning another demolition along Hilltop. Well we are not asking them not to develop the capital city but they should give us time and pay compensation to landlords so that they can refund us our rents yet to expire.”
Another Resident, Mrs Ifeoma Nwonu, who also appealed for time, maintained that they would be forced to either relocate to the village or put up with relatives should the demolition be carried out without adequate information and time.
