Man defies government’s double demolition of his building *Commences third reconstruction in right-of-way

By Our Correspondent

Despite having his building close to the Delta State Government Office Annexe in Edjeba, Warri demolished on two separate occasions by Officials of Delta State Ministry of Lands and Survey, a property developer, Mr. Andrew Anigala has commenced moves to reconstruct his building for a third time in a 20ft right-of-way.

Mr. Anigala’s renewed move is coming on the heels of efforts to fix the road and cast the drainage on both sides by other property owners within the vicinity.

It was reliably gathered that before Mr. Anigala’s property was first demolished by the State Government, he was told that the approval given to him by one Moses Efekemor, a Civil Servant with the State Ministry of Lands and Survey was deceptive because he allegedly showed officials of the Ministry a document of another land instead of the 20ft road under contention.

It was also learnt that in a bid to douse tension and proffer an amicable way forward, two of Mr. Anigala’s neighbours, Mr. Joseph Ajuwa and Mr. Joseph Ambekederimo were asked to pay a compensation of N 250,000.00 each to Mr. Anigala, while the man that allegedly sold the land to him, late Dr. Urhobo was asked to provide an alternative land to him, but the latter did not before his demise.

Sources claimed that officials of the State Ministry of Lands and Survey purportedly promised to survey, draw the plan and supervise the building free up to foundation level if Mr. Anigala heeds their advice of erecting his structure in an alternative land outside the contentious road, but all entreaties to Mr. Anigala in that regard appears to have fell on deaf ears, as he seems determined to reconstruct his building on the road for a third time after Mr. Joseph Ajuwa has reportedly paid him his share of N 250, 000.00 compensation and his counterpart, Mr. Joseph Ambekederimo promising to do same as soon as fund  is available.

But when asked to comment on the action of Mr. Anigala, Mr. Joseph Ambakederimo said; “Mr. Anigala claimed that Gov Uduaghan gave the order for the rebuilding. If this is true that the Gov gave the order for the rebuilding of the house this action would have defeated the reason given for the demolition exercise within Warri and its environ, then the Gov should pay compensation to all those who’s houses were demolished recently because the said demolition would not have been justified in the first place.”

Wife of Mr. Joseph Ajuwa, Mrs. Ufuoma Ajuwa while reacting to the development, appealed to the State Government to wade into the issue so as to prevent Mr. Anigala from embarking on the project for a third time.

According to her, should Mr. Anigala go ahead with the structure, he will block the only access to their homes and further alter the State Government structured plan for the area.