Delta Taskforce begins demolition of illegal structures

The Delta State Taskforce On Environment on Wednesday, commenced demolition of illegal structures and shanties in Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North East Council Area, with a call on the people to help give the area a clean look.

The demolition exercise which commenced at Owa-Ekei Junction through Old Lagos Asaba Road and Owa-Alero Road was carried out by the State Taskforce on Environment in collaboration with officials of Ika North East and Ika South Local Government Council.

The State Taskforce Chairman, Honorable Sylvester Oromoni who led the enforcement team, disclosed that before the removal exercise, owners and occupants of the illegal structures, shanties and containerised kiosks were served ‘Removal Notice’ to vacate the entire area.

According to him, the exercise was carried out after several removal notices were issued to affected persons.

His words, “we did enough sensitisation to the public but it appears they deliberately refused to adhere to the directive.

“This stretch of road had been taken over by mechanics, block molders, meat vendors, bamboo and wood sellers, shanties for corn sellers and other illegal occupiers, as a result distorting the beautiful work done by the State Government.

“Owners and occupiers of the structures had been served removal notices to vacate the area and remove their structures which deface the commercial town of Agbor.

“Others who constructed extensions encroaching into the road had also earlier been asked to remove them within the stipulated time but they all failed to comply,” he added.

After the exercise at Owa-Ekei Road, Owa-Alero and Old Lagos Asaba Road the area looked neat as structures clustering the road were removed.

Motorists also found it easier to navigate the road and expressed happiness with the work carried out by the Taskforce.

Honorable Oromoni was also unhappy that trading was also going on under the High Tension Cable that ran through the area observing that it posed a serious risk to the people as the wires can snap anytime leading to death or serious injury.

He complained that beyond all these the area was dirty and unsuitable for human habitation and called on the traders to keep their environment clean at all times.

Oromoni said, “the board would not relent in its efforts to ensure environmental sanity in Delta State”.

He told traders and residents to always seek permission from concerned authorities before erecting buildings.

He warned that officials of the agency will identify and remove all illegal structures and shanties, in the state for the good of all.

The Ika North East Local Government Chairman Honorable Victor Ebonka, expressed happiness at the intervention of the State Environment TaskForce and thanked Hon. Oromoni and his team for coming to restore environmental sanity to the area.

He explained that the traders and owners of the illegal structures had been warned several times to remove them and ensure cleanliness and free flow of traffic more than a year ago but that they refused to comply with the directive.

“We asked them to relocate to the market”, he said, “but they rather continued to build more illegal structures and obstruct the road”, he concluded.

The Chairman added that anyone who refused to adhere to the Environmental laws and orders will be prosecuted.

Those present during the exercise were the Adminstrator/Director of Delta State Taskforce On Environment and the Chairman Ika South Local Government Council, Honourable Sunny Tatabuzogwu, among others.

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