The multi-million dollar Kenyatta building materials market was destroyed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).
Also reportedly damaged several items worth millions of naira.
On Thursday morning, the market on Kenyatta Street in Uwani-Enugu, in the Enugu South local government area of the state, underwent a demolition exercise. On Friday morning, the action got continued (today).
It was heard that Governor Sullivan Chime’s previous government attempted to move the market to a permanent location but failed to do so.
The bulk of traders have apparently remained there due to the high cost of the rent, despite some having moved to the permanent site, which is situated at Ugwuaji along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
Sources claim that rather than giving the stores to the traders directly, the government gave them to its friends, who then rented them out to the traders at exorbitant rates.
Shortly after Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was reelected for a second term, his administration started demolishing business structures and confiscating lands, forcing hundreds of people to relocate to villages.
However, the demolition of the building market was reported to have created a chaotic scene.
Sources said that the bulldozers had arrived at the market before the traders, who were forced to evacuate their goods, some of which were scattered along the streets in Uwani with most of them confused about what to do.
The Chairman of ECTDA, Denge Josef Onoh while speaking to some journalists blamed the leaders of the market for their inability to convince the traders to vacate the street market and move over to the permanent site of the market.
Onoh said the exercise was a development control measure meant to control congestion in the city.