By Tony Adibe
The Enugu State Government has described as worrisome a situation in which people have continued to erect structures on the waterways in spite of several warnings issued by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency to discontinue any ongoing work on the waterways as such structures posed great danger to the lives of people.
The commissioner for special duties, Hon Emeka Ajogwu and his works and infrastructure counterpart, Engr Gerald Otiji reiterated the warning on Friday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Peter Mbah. They emphasised that the government will begin to take drastic actions against defaulters.
The commissioners said the council also approved that a draft bill for a law to review the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency Law 2008 and to enact the Enugu State Emergency Management Law, to provide for the establishment of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Management Agency, (LEMA), be sent to the State House of Assembly for consideration and onward passage into law.
Hon Ajogwu and Engr Otiji said the exco also condemned the attitude of some people whose ongoing structures have been marked “stop-work” but they ignored the government’s order. They added that government would not relent in its commitment to protecting the lives of the people against both human induced and natural disasters.
They disclosed that very soon the Trans Ekulu bridge as well as Abakpa-T-Junction-Opi-Nsukka roads will become dual carriageways, hence many structures around the river will be demolished. They also called on the people building within the affected area to stop forthwith in order to avoid a waste of resources.
