The Abia State government has advised landlords in Umuahia, the state capital, whose buildings need a facelift or routine maintenance, to give their buildings a facelift within the next four weeks or face the consequences.
The Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, stated this on Monday at Government House, Umuahia, during the weekly State Executive Council press briefing.
According to the Commissioner, these buildings are defacing the state capital and should not be left like that.
Prince Kanu warned, “The State Government has observed with dismay that many landlords have not carried out routine maintenance or facelifts 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.”
According to him, 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 programme moves forward without further delay.
“First among these steps is planting trees by some major streets in the state capital, preparing and repainting the kerbs, installing perimeter fences, and installing 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”.
Prince Kanu further informed that the government has observed with dismay the illegal parking of commercial buses on city roads, adding that the illegal parking of commercial vehicles on the streets in Umuahia is now prohibited.
“The state government has observed with dismay the illegal parking of commercial buses on city roads. All commercial bus operators involved in this unwholesome act are advised to desist from this act, as culprits will have their vehicles impounded,” Prince Kanu stated.
