…Calls for Roundtable Discussion
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, has sealed the motor parks under the flyover bridge by New Motor Spare Parts Market, Nkpor-Agu, along the Enugu-Onitsha Express Way.
Nkwoka said the reason was to avoid a breakdown of law and order and to enable parties fighting over the parks to come to a round table for dialogue.
Addressing newsmen in his office at Idemili North Local Government Area Headquarters, Ogidi, the council boss disclosed that in 2016, a business entity known as Business Link, signed an Memorandum of Understanding to build and beautify the motor parks under the flyover bridge, under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
He said under the agreement, Business Link was to operate the park for a ten year period to recoup its monies before handing it over to the government.
He noted that the entity ran the business for a period of three years, between 2016 and 2019 before Amafor youths in Nkpor, forcefully came in, displaced Business Link, and started operating the parks illegally from 2019 to 2025.
Nkwoka said that when he came into office as Chairman of Idemili North, he was invited to wade into the matter. He said that he observed in the course of a series of meetings that ensued, that no provision for CSR was made for Amafor Community in the initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they signed; adding that after his meeting with Amafor Nkpor and Business Link, it was agreed that 17% would be given to the community from whatever that was realised from the parks.
‘After the agreements, I invited them to my office to have a view of the document. After that, I wrote to the community that with effect from April 1, 2025, they should stop every operation in the parks, as the local government would be taking over for proper renovation and management.
‘Unfortunately, on April 1st, 2025, the community responded with a protest – accusing the local government of trying to take over their land. They also brandished a document, saying that the Federal Government granted them a licence to operate the parks. How could the FG grant somebody licence to operate parks? It’s not done anywhere!
‘What I did in the midst of the protests was to mobilize security personnel and seal the parks because, as a Local Government Chairman, my duty is to protect the life and property of my people. Neither Business Link nor Amafor People would have access to the parks until both parties come to a round table to make peace and have good understanding. I don’t think fighting will be a good thing for our people now,” he emphasized.
He further denied the insinuation by Amafor community that their land was being taken forcefully; saying that nobody is interested in Amafor lands.
While cautioning Amafor Youths to steer clear of the parks, Nkwoka also warned motorists to desist from parking their vehicles there or they would have their vehicles confiscated.
