The Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, Imo State, has given reasons why it sealed Reach 104.9 FM Owerri.
In a statement by the agency’s spokesperson,Madu-Asebo Chidobi Micheal, in Owerri, OCDA said station flouted it’s rules and regulations.
It said the radio station, linked to wife of former Governor of Imo State, Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, failed to adhere to the directives of the agency, which kicked against the “blocking of access road linking Villa Garden and failure by the management of the station to provide OCDA approval letter for the building
Part of the statement read ” On the 27th December, 2020, the OCDA team served Reach FM, to remove the fence blocking the access road linking Villa Garden and also asked them to provide their OCDA approval letter and evidence of payment.
“On the 23rd day of February 2021, the General Manager, Owerri Capital Development Authority, in his routine inspection, visited the building (The Reach FM 104.5FM) and demanded for the approval letter from the management and staff”
According to the statement, a lady who said she is the General Manager at that time, said “she did not have papers in her possession but promised that all necessary documents would be brought to the OCDA complex in no distant time”
“The kind hearted General Manager, Engr. Innocent Ikpamaezie listened to their plea and gave them 3 months period of grace.
The agency said the station management did not comply with the three months grace.
“Reach 104 FM is operating in a blue and yellow two storey building located at New Owerri, Plot 118 Concord Avenue, behind Villa Garden.
“Like every building in Owerri Capital metropolis, (both existing and sprouting), the OCDA team visits the areas to carry out their core duties which are primarily to ask of; evidence of payments and approval letter for the building from the state government……The Reach FM building is not an exception” the statement stated.
It however apologized to those who were manhandled by agents of the authority at the radio station while carrying out their duties.
The agency recalled that it is the legally constituted authority to issue approvals for buildings in the State capital.