Alleged Property Demolition: Anambra Govt provides Evidence of Dev't Control Violation by Onitsha NTA Mgt (Videos)

Mrs Nnadi in an altercation with ANSPPB officials

Uchenna Johnson

Onitsha

Contrary to allegations that it demolished the property of NTA Onitsha located at the Trans-Nkisi Estate, Onitsha, the Anambra State Government on Thursday, said it was only enforcing development control laws and never tampered with the media outlet’s property.

A viral new video peddled by the outlet had accused the state government officials led by the State Physical Planning Board, ANSPPB and the State Joint Taskforce of Demolition of Illegal Structures, of invading the premises of the NTA and demolishing the property of the outfit.

They also alleged that the Taskforce Team damaged the NTA camera during the exercise, seized many phones of people trying to video them, and brutalized some journalists, including the General Manager of NTA Onitsha, Violet Nnadi.

The Onitsha NTA GM was seen in the video, claiming that the land on which the demolished structures were erected belonged to NTA, and that they were not given any pre-demolition notice or warning.

But, in reaction to the video and allegations, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barr. Chike Maduekwe, dismissed them as fabricated falsehoods irresponsibly concocted to mislead the public and blackmail the government.

In an interview with our correspondent, the ANSPPB boss clarified that demolished structures were not official NTA property but illegal shanties erected on government-owned land and along the roads.

According to him, the unauthorized structures included both rental and residential shanties, with a (substandard toilet) pit latrine, building by the roadside.

“Does NTA build shanties? Is it part of their primary responsibility? Does NTA rent out shanties? Who authorized her to build and collect rent? Is she ignorant of the law? And do they not know that ignorance of the law is no excuse?” he questioned.

Watch the video...

https://youtu.be/uhExQUgRbtM?si=zcQH4GDh0kplLliQ

Maduekwe maintained that the law of Anambra State was very clear in specifying that anyone who wants to build, including government agencies, must seek approval from the Physical Planning Board.

Dismissing as sheer dishonesty, the claim by the NTA Manager that no pre-demolition notice or warning was given before the exercise, Maduekwe disclosed that several notices and warnings had been issued since three years ago for the removal of the illegal structures, including as recently as last week, which, he said, were all ignored.

“Notices were issued repeatedly—not once, not twice, but several times over the years, including as recently as last week,” he confirmed, sharing a video that shows the inscription of “REMOVE” warning and other markings on the shanties, which were said to been marked since 2023.

Also dismissing the allegations of brutality, Barr. Mmaduekwe accused the NTA General Manager, Nnadi, of deliberately creating a scene during the demolition exercise, in order to obstruct lawful government action.

“Apart from the fact that she was not manhandled, it was even her provocative conduct that nearly escalated the situation. If you see how she was shouting and reacting. As a matter of fact, if I had not been there, the security personnel would have dealt with her for her conduct. She physically grabbed a uniformed officer—who does that?

“I was the one who personally told them, ‘Leave her! Don’t touch her!’ And maybe she went behind and tore her own dress to fuel the false narrative by claiming that she was beaten.”

https://youtu.be/uhExQUgRbtM?si=zcQH4GDh0kplLliQ

Maduekwe warned that the state government would not tolerate lawlessness and any form of manipulation, adding that all remaining illegal structures in the area would be removed in the coming days.

He insisted that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is a government that upholds the rule of law and will not tolerate the idea of a lawless state.