Why we demolished beer parlors, viewing centers in Kariji – KASUPDA

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA) has claimed the responsibility for demolishing five beer parlor and two viewing centers in Kariji along Yakowa new road Kaduna last week.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KASUPDA Nuhu Garba who disclosed this to our correspondent in a statement explained that they were demolished for operating in a wrong place.

KASUPDA, had last week Thursday demolished five beer parlor and two viewing centers opposite Kariji junction after given notice to the owners.

Nuhu, who was earlier contacted for reaction on reasons for the demolition explained the plot was not acquired for the purpose of operating beer parlor and viewing center.

He stated, “Let him (the landlord) bring his approval that indicated the purpose is for the beer parlor pls sir. I responded to you that very moment but you did not open it in time”,

Earlier, it was reported that Kaduna state Government demolished five beer parlor and two viewing centres within the vicinity in Kariji area of Yakowa new road in Chikun local government area of the state.

The demolition exercise conducted KASUPDA, occurred opposite Kariji junction, around 2pm on Thursday, left some of the furniture contents of the buildings destroyed.

Narrating the ugly incident to our correspondent on Friday, uncomposed affected victims said some of their properties were destroyed along with the building during the incident which took them unaware.

While some of the victim of the affected beer parlor acknowledged been served with notice earlier, some denied knowledge of any notice since they began to operate their business in the area about one year’s ago.

An aged widow victim of the demolition (name withheld) who spoke to our reporter in tears said she’s contemplating quitting the state entirely having suffered demolition of her only means of livelihood beer business twice, beginning from Kabala Doki where she is residing.

The woman lamented that earlier on hearing about the alleged notice, she went to KASUPDA office along with three other women and prostrated before the a female head of the authority but their appeal was rejected as women threatened to quit her office for them.

According to her, the plot located in some meters away from the main road belongs to their landlord, and therefore not known to be government land.

“I was their around 2pm when they arrived in large number in five different Vans, jump down and started hitting and breaking her shop with heavy axe and harmer” before she pleaded them to allowed her remove some things.

Some of the affected shop owners said they were not around when KASUPDA invaded the area and destroyed their business since they operates mostly in the evening time and therefore picked nothing out of the shops.

Our reporter who was in the scene of the incidents reported that KASUPDA Skips other shops and buildings closer to Yakowa new road and demolished the beer parlors and the viewing centres.

Some of the affected shop owners also confirmed that they spent about N500,000 and above in setting up the business and are paying their landlord on yearly basis.