The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has ordered the demolition of all illegal structures built along the waterways in Onitsha.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, gave the order on Monday in Onitsha while inspecting the proposed site for the building of a maritime institute.
Moghalu expressed shock at the rising number of illegal structures along NIWA’s Right of Way (ROW), saying the agency was not notified by those who built structures on its property.
Moghalu, while addressing journalists, said his interest was to achieve peace, maintain the law, and ensure that the revenue accruing to NIWA was not tampered with.
He said: “Since people did not give NIWA any notice to go into its property, NIWA will not give them any notice before it demolishes the structures. Why would I give you notice to quit my property when you did not give me notice to enter the property?
“I have ordered that these illegal ones be demolished before Tuesday. I’m in Onitsha today concerning the Maritime Institute that is coming up here in Onitsha.
“We have looked at the site and identified the area that is required for the project, and we have given them consent. What we are saying is that the formal application has to be made; the design of what is going to be done there must be provided for NIWA to do its survey and mark out the area in question for them to pay whatever charges that will be required.”