Imo State Government has ordered people who put up buildings illegally under a protected 333KVA national grid power line in parts of Owerri North Local Government Area to remove them within 14 days.
The warning was made public by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Creative and Electronic Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, via his Facebook page. It was jointly signed by Chinasa Nwaneri from the Office of the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance and Franklin Newodo, the General Manager of the Owerri Capital Development Authority.
The order covers structures built at Ishiuzo Egbu/Umuawaka, Awaka, along the transmission route connecting the Alaoji Transmission Station to the Egbu Transmission Station in Owerri.
In the notice issued by the Owerri Capital Development Authority, the state government said any owner who fails to comply will have their building pulled down, and the cost of demolition will be charged to them.
“The Imo State Government hereby issues notice to all those who illegally built at Ishiuzo Egbu/Umuawaka, Awaka, Owerri North under the reserved 333KVA National grid line from ALAOJI TRANSMISSION STATION to EGBU TRANSMISSION STATION Owerri, to remove the structures within 14 days from the date of this publication,” the announcement read.
It added, “The state government will at the expiration of the 14 days, commence the demolition of these illegal structures and put the cost on the owners.”
The government said the step is part of its responsibility to enforce the law and protect public safety.
“The Imo State Government is committed to uphold the law, public safety and development in the state,” the announcement stated.