Urban renewal: Abia govt hands Umuahia landlords 4 weeks ultimatum to give buildings facelift

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Abia State Government has as part of her urban renewal programme, given landlords in the capital city of Umuahia four weeks to give their buildings facelift or face the consequences.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu who disclosed this to newsmen in Umuahia after the state Exco meeting said the warning was for the landlords whose buildings need a facelift or routine maintenance.

Kanu said the directive had become necessary as the buildings in question are defacing the state capital and should not be allowed to be.

“The State Government has observed with dismay that many landlords have not carried out routine maintenance or face lifts to their buildings for years.

“These buildings currently deface the city, thereby setting back efforts of the state government to beautify Umuahia and give it the look and feel of a capital city.

“Consequently, the state government, through the UCDA, is advising all landlords whose buildings need a facelift or routine maintenance to do so within the next four weeks from the date of this announcement.

“Landlords who are disobeying this directive will face the consequences” Prince Kanu stated.

He said in line with the Umuahia Renewal and Beautification Programme of the state government to make Umuahia look like a befitting capital city, a number of steps have been taken to ensure the Renewal Programme will move on without further delay.

“First among these steps is planting trees by some major streets in the state capital, preparing and repainting the kerbs, installation of perimeter fences, and installation of road signs, among others.

“As a compassionate government, residents of Umuahia have been given more than enough time to remove the shanties and illegal projections in buildings around the city.

“The state government, through the UCDA, is now poised to enforce this directive. Landlords with shanties or projections in front of their houses have been advised to comply with this directive or be ready to face the wrath of the law”, Kanu stated.

Kanu frowned at the illegal parking of commercial buses on Umuahia city roads, informing that is now prohibited.