Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Umuahia, Abia State — The Abia State Government has issued a firm four-week deadline for landlords in Umuahia to carry out routine building maintenance and facelifts on dilapidated properties, and to remove shanties, illegal projections and other urban obstructions as part of an intensified urban renewal drive aimed at beautifying the state capital and enforcing municipal regulations.
The directive was disclosed in a briefing by Prince Okey Kanu, Abia’s Commissioner for Information, following a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti. The announcement forms a key element of the state’s Urban Renewal and Modification Programme, which authorities say is aimed at transforming Umuahia into a more orderly and aesthetically pleasing capital city.
Prince Kanu said that landlords whose properties have fallen into disrepair or who have allowed illegal extensions or shanties attached to their buildings have been given four weeks from the date of the announcement to make the necessary repairs or face enforcement actions under existing planning and environmental laws. “These buildings currently deface the city, thereby setting back the efforts of the state government to beautify Umuahia and give it the look and feel of a capital city,” the commissioner said, emphasising that failure to comply will attract the “consequences” of enforcement through the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA).
The government’s urban renewal agenda includes measures beyond building facelifts, such as tree planting along major roads, repair and repainting of public infrastructure, installation of perimeter fences and road signage, and the removal of illegal parking and commercial vehicle obstructions that impede traffic flow in the city centre. Kanu noted that residents have been given ample notice to comply, and that enforcement action will now be intensified to ensure adherence.
The ultimatum follows concerns by the state government that many structures within Umuahia have been neglected, with landlords failing to undertake routine maintenance for extended periods, contributing to an increasingly rundown appearance in parts of the city. Authorities say this undermines broader efforts to attract investment, improve living standards and enhance the capital’s status.
In outlining the crackdown, the Information Commissioner also reiterated a ban on illegal parking of commercial vehicles on city roads, warning that defaulters risk having their vehicles impounded. This forms part of the state’s attempt to reduce congestion and promote safer, more efficient movement within the urban centre.
The enforcement campaign coincides with other government initiatives, including plans to begin construction of a Civil Service Commission/Pocket Layout Estate in Umuahia, which is intended to deliver quality, affordable housing for residents, and signals an overarching drive to address housing, infrastructure and urban governance challenges in the capital.
The ultimatum has drawn attention from residents and property owners, who are now preparing to assess and upgrade eligible buildings to avoid sanctions. Urban development experts say that such directives, if fairly implemented and supported with clear technical guidelines, can help improve safety, environmental quality and the overall urban landscape — though they note that sustained enforcement and community engagement will be key to achieving long-term impact.
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