Edo begins removal of shanties

BENIN CITY – Edo State has commenced the removal of shanties built illegally by land developers.
The demolition exercise is commencing weeks after the expiration of the one-week ultimation given by the state government based on the decision taken at the state executive council meeting.
This first point of call is the Oba Ovonranmwen Square, the commercial nerve centre of Benin City where shanties built at the beginning of Mission Road by illegal land developers were pulled down by a bulldozer on site for the exercise which was being monitored by men of Edo State Special Task Force under the supervision of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Beyond supervising the removal of the shanties, the Governor made personal effort to direct commercial vehicles operating at the ever-busy Oba Ovonranmwen Square to ensure that there is safe and free-flow of human and vehicular traffic.
Even street traders could not escape the watchful eyes of the governor who also politely assisted in gathering the wares of a bread vendor back on the wheel-barrow before it was rolled away from the road-side for the vendor.
Speaking with newsmen on site, the Edo State Commissioner for Land and Urban Development, Arch. Francis Evbuomwan observed that it was government land and somebody had chosen to build on it and that “Government is reclaiming its land now.”
According to the commissioner, “We had, a few weeks ago, given notice to all those who were building on government land to vacate government land after which government will reclaim its land. This is one of such government land and government is in the process of reclaiming it.”
While disclosing that the exercise will be extended to other parts of the state until government reclaims all its land across the 18 local government areas in the state, he advised the owners of such shanties to take advantage of the time lapse and to “please take steps to vacate the land before we get there because we are coming for our land.”