By Uzo Ugwunze
The Idemili North Chairman Hon. Stanley Nkwoka has halted activities of the motor parks operating under the Nkpor New Parts Market Flyover along Enugu-Onitsha expressway warning both touts and motorist to avoid the place till further notice.
Addressing newsmen in a press conference held at the Idemili North LGA Secretariat Ogidi, the Executive Chairman said that the aim of sealing the park was to put things right and to avoid bloodshed between the Amafor youths and Business link who renovated the park under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
According to Nkwoka, I want to assure the public that I am not after taking anybody’s land but I am here to put things right.
“We have made it clear that we do not want agbero (touts) anywhere in Anambra. If I see anyone collecting money by cash from anyone in Idemili North I will jail the person. So that tomorrow nobody will say that he has not been warned.
” I have put jingles at radio stations warning people not to park under the that bridge. It is sealed till further notice. If you park your vehicle there, sorry, you will not see it for a very long time until every party involved come to the table and begin to reason. This is my position,” he warned.
Speaking about ownership of the park and the alleged protest led by Amafor youths on April 1, 2025, the INLGA Chairman said that Business Link entered a signed agreement with the LG authorities to renovate the parks under the flyover bridge under Public Private Partnership (PPP) which was supposed to last for 10 years but they were short changed by touts in 2019 who invaded the park forcefully and started collecting cash under the guise of Amafor indigenes.
“Business Link renovated the park under PPP and was to operate the park for a ten year period to recoup the money the company invested before handing the park over to government.
“After three years of operating in the park, in 2019 Amafor youths in Nkpor, forcefully invaded the park and started operating the parks illegally from 2019 till this April 2025, collecting cash from motorists. The Government of Prof Chukwuma Soludo has banned cash collection of revenue saying that every revenue must be automated and that is what we have done in Idemili North.
” Those youths are fighting not to leave that park. Instead of coming for dialogue Amafor youths started a protest on April 1, 2025 claiming that I want to collect their land. If they want work as the community they have to partner with government. We must automate revenue collection in that park, no more Cash Collection.
“Amafor people should come to the table let us discuss and not resort to fighting. I do not want to see any tout under that Nkpor New parts Market Flyover”, Nkwoka said.