Akwa Ibom government has started the demolition of structures in Uyo metropolis to pave way for the construction of a flyover at Ikot Iko Ikono junction as part of efforts to decongest the highway leading to the city centre.
The flyover when completed will also help to reduce incessant road crashes involving heavy-duty vehicles around the area, it was gathered.
The demolition of structures followed the directive for the closure of a section of the road around the area in which the flyover is expected to be constructed.
In a statement by Akaninyene Henry, director, civil engineering, ministry of works, it stated that the dual carriage at the University of Teaching Hospital would be closed to traffic while the construction work would be in progress.
According to the statement, the closure is to allow for smooth and hitch free construction at the site. It advised motorists plying the road are therefore to use the old stadium road or any other alternative routes available.
“The Akwa Ibom ministry of works on behalf of state government while soliciting the maximum cooperation of the host community and the general public sincerely regrets the inconveniences this closure may cause the general public,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Uyo Capital City Development Authority has reiterated the need for residents of the State to key into the orderly development of the Uyo metropolis to restore the City Master Plan
Enobong Uwah, the chairman of the authority stated this during the ongoing demolition exercise by officials of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority along Oron Road.
Uwah who reacted to the unyielding attitude of owners of illegal structures, said such structures erected indiscriminately to include ramshackle structures, fences, shanties, extensions, signposts, containers, and other unauthorized developments have given the Uyo Capital city an image not befitting a capital city.
Uwah decried situation where some duly marked illegal structures and designated for demolition were erected to block drainages and Government right of way, while others he noted were built without adhering to building specifications and non approved building plans, stressing that such actions stalled development of the metropolis and override public interest.
He further restated the resolve of Government to stop at nothing to ensuring that Uyo metropolis is given the status that befits it and sanity brought to it.
While calling on developers to duly register their structures with the UCCDA before9 embarking on development to ensure compliance to the City Master Plan, the UCCDA boss sued for cooperation from the public to enable the Authority to carry out its core mandate of physical planning and development control which he maintained cannot be compromised.
He also called on owners of illegal structures duly marked for demolition to remove to forestall demolition by the Authority.
Meanwhile, the demolition exercise within the Capital City following several warnings by the Authority is still in force.
