By Chigozie Chukwuleta
The Anambra state government says it will extend the removal of illegal structures defacing the environment and endangering lives beyond Onitsha in the coming weeks.
The state Commissioner for information, Mr Paul Nwosu announced the government while speaking to journalists in Awka , the Anambra State capital on Wednesday.
He said the decision was part of the resolutions reached at the Anambra State Executive Council(AN SEC) Meeting, held at Government House on Tuesday.
He said, “It has come to the attention of ANSEC that the lands of many community secondary and primary schools have been massively encroached on by some communities and developers.
“This is unacceptable and government is seriously looking to recover these portions of land; part of measures to achieve this within the ambit of the law, government is seeking to quickly amend land laws so that land grabbing will be criminalized.”
It will be recalled that the state government since early July began destruction of buildings sitting on drainage channels, and marked for demolition, in line with Onitsha Urban Renewal Plan.
Such buildings were identified and marked for demolition in March and owners and developers of such illegal structures along the waterways served notice of removal