The Ondo State Government on Tuesday commenced the demolition of about 92 buildings and shops in Akure to pave way for the construction of motor park.
The demolition followed the
expiration of an ultimatum given to the owners of the affected structures by government.
The government had given owners and occupants of the buildings up to Oct. 31 to vacate them for work to commence on the park.
Correspondent who visited the site on Tuesday reports that the demolition was ongoing, while some of the occupants caught unawares were making desperate efforts to salvage some of their property.
Among the structures affected by the demolition were buildings and shops at the back of the mosque on Oba Adesida Road as well as those on Ikoyi Road and Odo Koyi.
Gov. Olusegun Mimiko had early in the year announced that government would construct a modern and befitting car park in the state capital to ease traffic congestion on the Oba Adesida and Oyemekun roads.
The two major roads are notorious for traffic congestion caused by indiscriminate parking of vehicles.
Dr Igbekele Daodu, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, who witnessed the demolition, said that owners of the affected structures had been adequately compensated.
He also assured traders who were displaced that government would allocate alternative shops to them at the new NEPA market currently under construction.
Mostly affected was the popular plastics market on Odo Koyi Street, which has been relocated to a section of the NEPA market.
Many of the affected traders who spoke appealed to the government to find alternative shops for them, saying that most them had paid about 10 years rent on the demolished shops.