Abia Govt seals house built on river bank, orders tenants to vacate

The Abia State Government has sealed a building located on a river bank following concerns over the safety of the structure.

The government has also directed the tenants living in the building to vacate for their own safety.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made this known at Government House Umuahia on Monday while addressing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He explained that the buildings were sealed to prevent possible fatalities.

Kanu also disclosed that erosion control works are ongoing at Emede Ibeku community, where houses and lands were devastated by gully erosion menace for many years.

Speaking on the sealed houses, the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, advised those living in the endangered houses to vacate without delay, even as he said that owners of the buildings have been engaged to do the needful.

“The one located in Afara, that one has no approval. It was built at the edge of a river bank. We have visited the house and advised everyone staying inside the building to vacate and we have sealed the building,” Agomuo said.

Meanwhile, the Abia State government says it is distributing three million insecticide-treated nets to residents as part of the war against malaria.