C/River destroys illegal structures in Etim-Edem Park
The Cross River state government has destroyed over 100 illegal shops including containers erected within the premises of the popular Etim-Edem Park in Calabar metropolis.
Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey, who led staff of the ministry on the demolition on Sunday in Calabar, said the move is to create sanity within the park.
Bassey explained that the design of the location is for a motor park where travellers board vehicles to different destinations within and outside the state.
“I still recall in those days when people used to load from Etim-Edem Park to Onitsha, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Lagos, Anambra and other states of the federation.
“But, late in 2007, some persons decided to constitute nuisance in the park and the over-flowing effect was that we started having traffic congestion within major roads in Calabar metropolis.
“People who were meant to be loading from the park now decided to create illegal parks along the road, causing traffic congestion.
“What we are doing is trying to bring solution to the traffic congestion in the city. As you can see, the park has been cleared and all commercial vehicles loading along the road will now return to the park because they will have no excuse again.
“We issued the traders who were using the containers sufficient notice to relocate and more so, we did sensitisation campaign informing them on the planned demolition,” he said.
The commissioner however, pointed out to some of the shops were not occupied because traders decided to abandon them for the drive way within the park
He said that the ministry is working with relevant agencies with a view to allow for free vehicular movements on the road.
Head of Local Government Administration, Calabar South, Bassey Efiom, stated that he is impressed with the development, as the local government is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment to bring back sanity to the park and reduce illegal motor parks within the metropolis.
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Also, the Vice Chairman of the park, Eyo Ekpenyong, expressed satisfaction with the development, saying that successive governments had tried to demolish the structures but were stopped by some individuals.
Ekpenyong commended the commissioner for carrying out the demolition, adding that the main aim of building the park is for transportation purposes, not for traders to occupy all the loading spaces.
