Abia South Council to Reconstruct Town Hall and Chairman’s Office Following EndSARS Destruction

Towards restoring a historical landmark, the Abia South council has announced plans to rebuild the popular Aba town hall and the chairman’s office, which were destroyed during the EndSARS protest in 2020.

Mayor of Aba South, Chief Uche Wogu, stated that the reconstruction of the burnt town hall and the council chairman’s office would begin in March 2024.

He emphasized the importance of the town hall to the indigenous people of Aba and assured that the facility would soon wear a new look.

The Mayor further revealed that Governor Alex Otti has given his approval for the reconstruction of the town hall.

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 town hall will wear a new look by the end of March 2024.”

Historically, the elephant structure at the town hall signifies ‘Okporo enyi’, (Elephant’s route), which was the route that the founders of Aba used in coming into the city.

The Mayor highlighted that the first settlement of the Aba people was around the place currently called NEPA office, and the market was located at the place now known as Bata.

In addition to the reconstruction of the town hall and chairman’s office, the Mayor also addressed the issues of street trading and illegal motor parks.

A taskforce has been set up to tackle these problems, and street traders and those on illegal motor parks have been warned to relocate to the government-approved markets and motor parks.

Mayor Wogu praised the ongoing efforts of Governor Alex Otti’s administration in cleaning up and rebuilding Aba, noting that the government now has the funds to run the administration effectively.

He mentioned that teachers are no longer owed as before and workers are no longer facing two to three months of salary arrears.

With the reconstruction of the town hall and the chairman’s office, the Abia South council is taking a significant step in restoring the historical significance of these structures while also addressing the issues that have plagued the city in recent years.