War on illegal structure:C/River pulls down 100 structures in Calabar main-park

Over 100 shops that were erected illegally around the central motor park in Calabar, fondly called Etim-Edem Motor park have been demolished.

The Cross River State government through the Ministry of Environment carried out the demolition exercise on Sunday morning at the time most of the shop owners were not around.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mfon Bassey, who led staff of the ministry on the demolition,said the move was to create sanity within the park.

He explained that the master designed of the premises was meant to be a motor park where intending travelers come in and board vehicles to different destinations.

“I still recall in those days, when people used to load from Etim-Edem park to Onitsha, Abuja, Portharcourt, Lagos, Anambra and others states of the federation.

“But late in 2007, some persons decided to constitute nuisance into the park and the overflowing effect was that we started having traffic congestion within major roads in Calabar metropolis.

“People who were meant to be loading from the park now decided to create illegal parks along the road, causing traffic congestion.

“What we are doing is trying to bring solution to the traffic congestion in the city. As you can see, the park has been cleared and all commercial vehicles loading along the road will now return to the park because they will have no excuse again.

“We issued the traders who were using the containers sufficient notice to relocate and more so, we did sensitisation campaign informing them on the planned demolition”, he said.

The Commissioner, however, pointed out to some shops that were still empty and not occupied by any trader, lamenting that some of the traders decided to abandon them for no reason and occupy the drive way within the park.

The exercise was carried out with the knowledge and support of many stakeholders and opinion leaders in the state such as the leadership of Calabar South Local Government and political leaders like the Member representing Calabar South/Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Constituency, Hon. Essien Ayi and the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Bassey.

Hon. Ayi, who also monitored the demolition, said the right thing has been done.

He noted that the illegal structures were erected through an authorized process and the revenue collected thereafter was shared among a few individuals instead of returning same to the local government coffers.

He lamented that the park, which used to be one of the highest revenue generating points in Calabar South, have been mismanaged over the years.

He told journalists that the park was commissioned during his tenure as local government Chairman of Calabar South, adding that it was supposed to be a motor park and not a market.

He advised the traders to take advantage of the shop within the park and leave the vehicle premises for transportation business to thrive.

Also, Deputy of Cross River House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Bassey, lauded the state government for taking the giant step, adding that as a young man, he usually travel to other parts of the country through the Etim-Edem park.

He emphasised that the demolition will decongest traffic along the metropolis and guarantee the safety of intending passengers.

On his part, Mr Bassey Efiom, Head of Local Government Administration, Calabar South, told journalists that he was impressed with the development.

Efiom said that the local government was collaborating with the Ministry of Environment to bring back sanity to the park and reduce illegal motor parks within the metropolis.

Mr Eyo Ekpenyong, Vice Chairman of the park, also expressed satisfaction with the development, saying that successive governments had tried in the past to demolish the structures but were stopped by some individuals.

He commended the Commissioner for carrying out the demolition, adding that the main aim of building the park was for transportation purposes, not for traders to occupy all the loading spaces.