Residential buildings erected by the investor that took over the development of the former Umuahia main market site at the heart of Umuahia metropolis known as Isi gate have been demolished by the Abia State Government as they were said to have been built without government approval.
According to the State government, the exercise carried out by the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, was part of its efforts to transform Umuahia into a modern city and befitting capital.
In a statement, the General Manager of UCDA, Mr Kingsley Agomoh, on Monday pointed out that the former market space was allocated to a private investor by the previous administration for the purpose of building an event centre on a Build, Operate, and Transfer, BOT, arrangement and not for residential purposes.
Ahomoh made it clear that the investor unilaterally repurposed the space and decided to develop residential duplexes and apartments, contrary to the government’s plan.
According to him, the Abia State Government has been engaging the investor for the past one year and has offered a negotiated ex-gratia settlement that involves taking over the space for the building of a modern transportation hub that would integrate bus terminal, train station and intercity shuttles.
Recall, the private investor who is a known estate developer with investments across the country was handed over the space for development by the Senator T. A. Orji administration that relocated traders in the market to Ubani modern market.
Attempts to speak with the investor on development proved abortive.
