Abia LG to rebuild structures destroyed during EndSARS protest

• Chief Uche Wogu, the Mayor of Aba South, revealed during a briefing that the reconstruction of the burnt Aba town hall and the council chairman’s office is scheduled to commence in March
  

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Aba South council area in Abia State is poised to reconstruct the Aba town hall and the chairman’s office, both of which were damaged during the 2020 EndSARS protest.

The Aba town hall, situated at the Aba South council area secretariat, along with other structures including the council chairman’s office, was set ablaze by protesters during the demonstrations.

Chief Uche Wogu, the Mayor of Aba South, revealed during a briefing that the reconstruction of the burnt Aba town hall and the council chairman’s office is scheduled to commence in March.

He stated that the town hall occupies a historical place in the hearts of the indigenous people of Aba and assured that the hall would soon wear a new look.

Wogu further disclosed that the council has gotten Governor Alex Otti’s approval for the reconstruction of the facility.

He said; “We know the importance of the popular Aba town hall to the people of Aba. The Aba town hall, the chairman’s office and other structures were burnt during the EndSARS protest in 2020. I want to assure you that the Aba town hall will wear a new look by the end of March 2024. All arrangements have been set for work to commence at the building. We will soon start the process of rebuilding and regenerating the town hall because it holds a historical place in the heart of the Aba man.

“Historically, the elephant structure at the town hall signifies ‘Okporo enyi’, (Elephant’s route). It is the route that the founders of Aba used in coming into Aba. The town hall was a meeting place for Aba people in those days.

“The first settlement of the Aba people was around the place we call NEPA office. The market was located at the place we now call Bata. When the settlement started growing and coming closer, the white people relocated the market to the Ekeoha market. So, you can see that the Aba town hall has a significant place in the history of Aba.”

On street trading and illegal motor parks,the Mayor explained that the state government has set up a taskforce to tackle the menace and warned the street traders and those on illegal motor parks to relocate to the markets and approved motor parks.