Kaduna State Urban and Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), has embarked on the demolishing of ‘illegal structures’ in the state.
This action by KASUPDA came at a very critical time when the victims and other Nigerians are groaning under the raging hyper inflation and other economic conundrums.
Those concerned citizens were however of the view that such unpalatable move by the agency was far from being apt and correct
A cross-section of the victims and residents who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondents in Kaduna, described the demolition as adding salt to an injury, warning that such obnoxious actions are capable of aggravating insecurity in the state and the country in general.
“Governments should always think of improving the living standards of Nigerians and not further jeopardise them.”
Malam Aliyu Sahabi, a former shop owner at the popular NAF Junction expressed his dismay saying: ”We are now very confused as I have been operating here for close to two decades.
“As for the elderly people like us, some of us can be patient and bottle up whatever we are feeling after this demolition.
”Our concern is mainly the youths among us as some of them can stray, revert to crimes and other anti-social activities.”
Another victim, Hajiya Raliya Muhammad called on the state government to provide them with alternative spaces to reconvene their trading activities.
However, the authority has insisted that its action was aimed at sanitising the city and restoring its original masterplan.
This was made known in a press release issued by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs Unit of the authority, Nuhu Garba.
According to him, the affected areas were: NDA bus stop, U/Dosa area, Kawo area, Mando roundabout, Rabah road, NAF Club gate and Katuru road.
Others were: Isa Kaita Road, Alkali Road, Babban Saura area(Millennium City), T/Wada area, Barnawa and High Cost Junction axis, among others.
He said, “The action followed after public announcements on media, sensitization visits and stakeholders’ engagement meetings.
“This was to give the affected people ample time to remove their properties as well to vacate from those places.
Garba also said the exercise has been successful in restoring urban planning and city beautification.
“Such erection of shops, containers, kiosks and signage without approvals as well as the display of wares or goods on roads were a source of concern to the state because it leads to constant traffic congestion and security threat in the state.
“At the points of enforcement exercise, some of the defaulters confirmed that the authority had informed them.
“But, they stressed that poverty, socio-economic hardship in the country,non-completion of the modern markets development project, and exorbitant price of shops in the markets made them turn deaf ears to the warning.
Others upheld and understood that such places were not meant for the businesses in operation but maintained that they had no other option.
According to Garba, victims have appealed to KASUPDA for alternative places to enable them carry out their legal business activities before vacating the demolished areas.
He, however, said that KASUPDA has again solicited their usual cooperation for ensuring urban sanity and secure environment in the state.
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