Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has ordered the stoppage of construction work on a new multi-million naira petrol station being built along the Obiagu Road, New Layout, Enugu, following public outcry.

Ugwuanyi, who had sometime last year visited the construction site, asked the owner to relocate the station, expressing displeasure that work continued on the site after he left.

The governor, who returned to the site a second time, yesterday, asked the owner of the petrol station to look for another venture he could set up at the place other than a fuel station.

The governor also expressed concern that the fuel station was being used to block a water channel, explaining that the negative impact of the action would be felt with time.

He noted that the fuel station was a ‘potential danger waiting to happen’, if allowed to continue, due to the compact nature of the area, which is mostly occupied by low-income earners.

One of the residents, Mr. John Okechukwu, said they had been unsettled since construction work started, stressing that it was not in the interests of the residents.

“This is because the only road we have, which is Obiagu Road, is compacted. You can see how vehicles park on this road. So many persons are living around here, making it difficult for ease of movement,” he said

He disclosed that earlier in the month, a fire outbreak that occurred in one of the compounds in the area consumed the entire structure, because fire trucks could not access the road, due to congestion.

“So, we thank the governor for taking this bold initiative to stop further work on this site.”

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