Benue Urban Devt begins demolition of shanties, over 800 structures on water ways – Mede
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue state government has commenced the demolition of shanties and other illegal structures in its move to recover the original master plans of Makurdi, the state capital.
The General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Engr Elias Mede, who led officials of the board in company of some security agents to destroy the shanties during the exercise which commenced, Thursday, May 2, 2024, said the illegal structures were not only defacing the beauty of the city but has also altered the original plan of the town.
He further noted that most of the shanties have also served as hideouts for criminal elements in the state.
Mede noted that over 800 illegal structures are sitting on water ways alone said over 40 has been demolished in the first phase saying more will be demolished as the exercise continue.
Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, the General Manager said “the exercise came as a result of shanty development we have in some parts of Benue State. Governor Hyacinth Alia said we should revitalize the city and by the mandate given to us, we thought this is what we should do to bring the city to what it should be.
“In this first phase, we have removed over 40 shanty development around town and we were able to open roads that were blocked by developers.
“This assignment will continue in places where developers are blocking access roads and would cover the entire Makurdi city. We intend to open the roads, major access routes. We just started with the South bank of Makurdi and very soon we will move to North bank area of Makurdi,” he said.
According to him, the board had visited a community around the Naval road in Kanshio layout in Makurdi and all the buildings that were located around the water ways and drainages were touched and we opened channel for water.
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“We have about 800 houses built on water ways and have been earmarked for demolition,” he said.
He explained that the board notified all owners of destroyed illegal structures since last year 2023 and also issued a seven days ultimatum notices through the mass media.
He noted that while some took heed and removed their structures, others remained defiant.
According to him, “If you go to North Bank area around the Catholic Church, you will see containers lying on the fence and it has reduced the road side and defaced the environment.
“The metropolis cannot remain like this, the city has to be kept clean because the level of illegal structures in town is not doing the state any good more so, some serving as hideout for criminal elements,” Mede said.
While he noted that the Governor is worried about the situation, Mede vowed that no shanties will be left out in its quest to beautify the city and take it back to what it should be.
The GM appreciated Governor Hyacinth Alia for providing them with necessary logistics to carry out the exercise, and also Tratcta construction company for their support with bulldozer and pay loader.
He also disclosed that he has discussed with the governor on the need to build a GSM village for the mobile phone dealers saying the governor agreed while a spot has been identified.
While some of the affected victims said they were not notified, they complained that they have been paying tax to the state government through its agents at the Board of Internal Revenue Service, (BIRS).