Businessman Laments Demolition of Multi-billion Naira Restaurant in Enugu

The owner of a multi-billion naira restaurant in Enugu, Ikechukwu Okeke, has accused the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) of abuse of office over the demolition of his establishment, Breathe Restaurant and Lounge.

The restaurant, situated on Independence Layout, was demolished on Thursday last week by the ECTDA, citing several infractions as reasons for the exercise.

Okeke claims that the demolition, ordered by the Director of the ECTDA, Chief Uche Anya, was an abuse of office as he had complied with all the laid down rules and extant laws regarding the setting up of the lounge in the environment.

He further stated that the cost of the demolition runs into billions and has affected the livelihood of the employees.

However, when contacted, Chief Uche Anya told LEADERSHIP that the owner of the demolished restaurant had secured a fraudulent approval by using a title deed of another location.

He explained that the Enugu State government withdrew the approval of the lounge because it breached the master plan of the state capital city.

According to Chief Uche Anya, the owner of the restaurant used a title deed from a different location, the Government Reserved Area (GRA), to obtain approval for the construction of the establishment in Independence Layout.

The approval granted was for residential purposes, but the owner turned the place into a beer parlor and lounge, playing live band music from 4pm to 5am.

Before Chief Uche Anya took office, the Secretary to the Government was already handling a complaint from the neighbourhood about the noise pollution.

The Commissioner of Tourism, Mrs. Ugochi Madueke, also arranged to visit Chief Uche Anya to discuss the issue.

Despite being informed that the approval was for a residential purpose with an attached restaurant, the owner continued with the live music, which ultimately led to the demolition of the establishment.

This incident highlights the importance of adhering to the master plan of the state capital city and obtaining proper approvals before setting up a business.

It also underscores the need for businesses to be considerate of their surroundings and the impact of their operations on the community.