New Berries Park located along Enugu-Abakaliki road in Enugu metropolis, has been demolished.

It was gathered that the multi-million facilities were pulled down weekend.

The popular park shares fences with the Old Government Lodge, Enugu. It occupies a common space where the National Museum, Enugu, is situated.

A former Chairman of the Bar Owners Association of Enugu State, Mazi Hilary Onah, described the demolition as a means of creating unemployment in the state.

He said the park employed many workers who have been rendered jobless following the demolition.

Onah said the action had shown that the state government lacks the spirit of building the private sector in the state.

“My heart bleeds,” laments Onah. “I weep for all the members of the Bar Owners Association of Enugu State. I know all the sacrifices we made under my leadership for five years and our support to Governor Peter Mbah in 2023.

” I apologize to you all for I thought that since the governor came from the business background, that his focus would be on how to grow our businesses, not knowing that he was coming to take us out of business.”

Onah alleged that the hospitality industry in Enugu State had died since Gov Mba assumed office. He mentioned some of the actions of the governor that worked against the hospitality industry to include the banning of live entertainment, restriction of Keke and mini buses to some areas.

Quoting him, “Governor Mba has killed all small businesses in Enugu State and this demolition is the height of it all. Bar Owners Association of Enugu State is the highest employers of labour in the state. No much job has been created in Enugu State since Gov Mbah assumed office.”

Efforts to speak with the CEO of the demolished park failed as his phone number was switched off. A person seen around the premises, who refused to be mentioned, said, “The state in 2024 signed a law prohibiting noise pollution. This park has been threatened by the enforcers to stop its weekly live entertainments. But the emphasis is that no music should be played at the park because people live around here.”

The source recalled that during the second term of former Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the park located at the National Museum, close to the demolished New Berries Park, was also demolished.

“What I heard later is that the land was acquired by the state from the federal government, and was allocated to some big men. Maybe that’s what they want to do with the New Berries Park. But I know very well that when relaxation facilities at the museum were demolished, the operators of New Berries had about ten years’ lease deal with the federal government. The duration hasn’t expired,” he said.

Enugu State’s Policy Against Noise Pollution

The Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Uche Anya, had in 2024 given churches and bar operators 90 days to dismantle their outdoor loud speakers to avoid noise pollution at residential areas.

Anya, who addressed religious and hospitality stakeholders during a meeting, had said, “From now to the next three months, every church and mosque must remove outside loudspeakers and begin to install soundproof (acoustic) in their worship centres.”

According to him, noise pollution had become the biggest challenge for the state, adding that his office received over 1,000 petitions over noise pollution from different churches, mosques, and businesses around their homes.

In his words, “Noise pollution from Independence Layout to GRA, from GRA to Trans-Ekulu, from Trans-Ekulu to Agbani Road, from Agbani Road to Abakpa Nike, from Abakpa Nike to Ugwuaji, from Ugwuaji to name it to Mayor people are in pains.”

The state government is yet to clarify if it ordered the demolition.