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ENUGU DEMOLITIONS: BULLDOZERS MOVE INTO GARKI AWKUNANAW MARKET
Following the demolition of the businesses and private motor parts along market road, that took place recently, bulldozers Monday moved into the popular Afor Awkunanaw, also known as Garriki market for similar demolition.
The Enugu state government, through the Ministry of Transport, had indicated that the essence of the demolition was to make way for a modern and befitting bus terminal that would give Enugu metropolis a new aesthetic ambience.
The affected traders had been given prior notice to vacate since last year, but some were not given prior notice but only last week Thursday when they were given 72 hours to move.
As was expected, the demolition machines moved into Garriki on Monday and stalls in the market as well as the existing motor parks faced the demolition.
One of the affected traders, a food stuff seller, Mr. Friday Nnamani, lamented that they were given only 72 hours last week Thursday but never knew that government meant business.
“They came last week Thursday and gave us 72 hours to pack so that our shops will be demolished. We couldn’t move at such a short notice and today they came and started demolishing our sheds with bulldozers and carterpillars.
“I don’t know where to go now or what to do,” Nnamani lamented.
Another trader, Jude Oke, a livestock feed seller, said their shops were not included in the places marked for demolition until last week.
“They never informed us that we would be affected by the demolirion. They had marked other places and the traders started removing their goods and valuables but in our case, we were not given enough notice. You can see I could not remove anything. Somebody called me and told me that they have started demolishing our sheds and I came here to see that my shop and others have been demolished,” Oke bemoaned.
An eyewitness said he saw a lady whose shop was demolished as she fainted.
He also narrated how one man who owned four shops in the market had all the four demolished.
Meanwhile, similar demolition has been slated for Nsukka and Abakpa Nike market.Touched by the plight of those that could be affected should Ogige Nsukka market be demolished, the chairman of Nsukka Journalists Forum (NJF), Comrade BenWhyte Ezeugwu, appealed to the state government to stay action, or in the alternative give the traders a temporary place before demolishing the market.
