The Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade on Monday carried out a coordinated demolition and environmental enforcement exercise along the Upper Iweka and Uwangbede axis of the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Onitsha.
During the operation, several shanties and illegal structures obstructing drainage channels and hindering traffic flow were demolished.
The exercise aimed to sanitize the area and discourage residents, traders, and developers from building or operating businesses within restricted corridors.
Speaking during the operation, OCHA Managing Director Celestine Anere said the agency targeted illegal roadside structures and public property encroachments to protect lives and public infrastructure.
He warned individuals involved in unlawful construction, roadside trading, and land encroachment, emphasizing that such activities endanger public safety, obstruct traffic, and damage the environment.
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“Structures that pose serious safety risks to occupants and the general public were dismantled and removed, while street traders occupying roadways and pedestrian walkways were cleared to restore free movement for motorists and pedestrians,” Anere said.
He added that government gardens and public spaces were recovered and sealed to prevent further illegal occupation.
The exercise reportedly resulted in improved environmental conditions, better accessibility, and a more organized urban outlook.
stressed that compliance with approved building plans, designated trading areas, and land-use regulations remains mandatory, and future violations will attract strict enforcement actions.
The OCHA Brigade carried out a similar operation on February 10 around Mgbuka Obosi Market in Idemili North, where shanties under high-tension power lines were removed to prevent safety hazards and encourage orderly urban development.