Anambra Businessman Writes Soludo, IPMAN Over Demolition, Erosion Threat To Investment
Mr Okechukwu Ayika, Managing Director of Chris-tee Investment has lamented the demolition of parts of his property housing Oando Filling Station and Gas Plants at Trans-Nkissi phase 1, along Onitsha-Otuocha road 33 Onitsha.
Ayika, who was visibly worried by the emerging ecological disaster arising from the demolition, said on Monday that he had all the approval of the government on the property.
He said the demolition was done by agents of the State government on Feb. 14.
The marketer said the property was allocated to the original allottee in 1992 with Certificate of Occupancy while he acquired it in 2012 and had been conducting his business actively since then.
He said he had written to the Anambra government through the Ministry of Land to address the injustice as well as the body of marketers, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to intervene.
“We have since written to the Commissioner for Lands notifying his office of the demolition on Feb. 15, we have yet to hear from them, and the rainy season is fast approaching,” he said.
The Ministry of Lands in a reply letter to Ayika said matter did not fall within the purview of the Ministry but rather that of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board.
The letter signed by an Acting Director of Lands on behalf of the Commissioner directed the complainant to channel his application to The Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board.
In his reaction, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States said the body had received a letter of complaint from Ayika.
Anyaso said he had visited the site for on the spot assessment while describing the action as an unwarranted attack on a multimillion naira investment. which had all the requisite approval.
He promised that IPMAN will work with the Anambra government to ensure justice was done on the matter.
