By Adamu Abubakar Kumo and Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
The Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority, GOSUPDA has halted construction and demolished structures at the Pantami GSM Market, Gombe.
The action followed reports received by GOSUPDA on the illegal allocation of right-of-ways to some individuals to build shops and malls.
Shedding light on the exercise, Tpl Abubakar Isa Bolari of GOSUPDA stated that the structures were encroaching on right-of-ways designated for public utilities like water and power lines.
The authority had previously received complaints from marketers and issued eviction notices, but the land was allegedly reallocated to others who began construction without proper authorization.
Tpl Bolari clarified that “even if they had approached GOSUPDA for building approval, it would have been denied as the area is a right-of-way”.
He urged marketers to refrain from engaging in illegal activities that could disrupt public peace, emphasizing that GOSUPDA would not condone such actions.
Members of the Pantami GSM Market Association, commended GOSUPDA for the timely intervention.
“We were asked to vacate the area but later realised the places were reallocated to some people who claimed to have obtained approval from Gombe Local Government”, one Umar Abdullahi remarked.
The marketers pledged allegiance to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s administration, recognizing its efforts in infrastructure development and the need to preserve public spaces for the overall societal use.
GOSUPDA’s actions are inline with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s vision of creating friendly and convenient urban spaces to support businesses and social life.