The Owerri Capital Development Authority OCDA is an organization backed by Law to implement the master it is plan of Owerri city, and therefore unfortunate that some people dub the OCDA an organ targeted at opposition politicians in the state.
Speaking to journalists in his office at New Owerri, the General Manager of OCDA, Town Planner Iheanyi Abaekwume said that OCDA is not out to witch hunt anybody, but those erecting illegal structures against the original master plan of Owerri, adding that such offenders must be made to face the Law and its consequences, no matter how highly placed or political affiliation.
He maintained that because of the sensitive nature of OCDA, it marches on toes to actualize its objective, which tends to infuriate victims affected while OCDA is making sure that the original plan of Owerri is maintained, not only to make it a modern state capital, but to avoid disasters caused by indiscriminate errection of structures in the city.
“The Role of OCDA is to implement Government Policies, which is affecting the master plan of Owerri, based on Law No2 of Imo State (as amended). OCD has power to stop work, to demolish and even prosecute offenders” Abaekwume said.
The OCDA Boss maintained that the greatest problem facing the body is for the citizens to realize that it is an offence to built structures against the master plan of Owerri, pointing out that, OCDA has never demolished wrongly, as it follows all due process before the matter could degenerate to demolition stage.
Abaekwume said that if the plan of Owerri is not maintained, illegal structures will block water channels, including causing severe environmental problems like flooding which could cause serious physical havocs like pulling down houses, and health problems like epidemics for the inhabitants of the city.
He said Governor Okorocha has done enough to make Owerri a modern city, through urban renewal and construction of many roads to connect old Owerri with New Owerri, for rapid development of the state.
He said social problem is preventing people from leaving their old home steads to New Owerri, while street trading is defacing the Town, pointing out that soon the phase two master plan of Owerri will take off.
