350 Jobs at Risk as ECTDA Barricades Firm’s Plant, Rendering Construction Equipment Redundant

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Enugu

A construction firm in Enugu has raised alarm over the crippling effect of the barricade of its plant by the Enugu Capital Development Authority(ECTDA) making it impossible for its heavy equipment to be mobilised to sites.

The Executive Director of Toshel Construction and Equipment Limited, Engr. Tochukwu Nzekwe, raised the alarm yesterday while speaking with journalists over the lingering face-off between his firm and ECTDA.

He said it’s been over a year since his plant was barricaded in the guise of building a uniform fence running from the New Artisan Market through Toshel premises along the Naira Triangle section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

Nzekwe lamented the construction equipment in the 3,500 square metres premises have been redundant since 2024 thereby dealing a devastating blow to his business.

The barricaded equipment and vehicles which he estimated to be worth over N10 billion include heavy duty cranes,  excavators, bulldozers, trucks, among others.

He expressed fears that Toshel might be compelled to lay off its over 350 workers as it is becoming increasingly difficult to pay their salaries since the barricade of equipment has affected the firm’s revenue inflows.

The Toshel ED stated that after building the New Artisan fence which stretched down and sealed off the entrance to his firm’s premises, ECTDA directed that the company should be using the entry point with the cattle market.

However, due to the size of the market entry and exit gate, Nzekwe said that it was practically impossible for Toshel equipment to pass through hence he requested ECTDA to allow him rebuild the original gate of his firm for easy access.

He narrated that when he commenced the rebuilding of the company gate ECTDA officials emerged to demolish it without any official communication of any infraction. Nzekwe alleged that the Executive Chairman of ECTDA, Hon. Uche Anya, was acting as if he has a personal grudge with him.

“I have been begging Uche. This company has about 350 employments. He shut it down for no reason. Nobody has officially told me the offence I have committed,” Nzekwe said.

But ECTDA has a different narrative, alleging “malicious destruction of Enugu State Government property at New Artisan”, insisting the executive director of Toshel “brought down a section of the fenced New Artisan Market”.

The head, Development Control, Mr. Ikechukwu Emike accused Nzekwe of “resorting to self-help (and) installed a gate on the section (of the fence) claiming that he owns that section of the property”.

According to him, the New Artisan Market fence was built by Enugu State Government in 2024 and “in its wisdom provided alternative gates for access to the property”.

Emike didn’t explain if Toshel premises was part of the market for it to be fenced off without provision of appropriate gate for movement of construction equipment.

Nzekwe faulted the stance of ECTDA which is giving the impression that he was having issues with Governor Peter Mbah’s government, saying that there was nothing of such.
“To be honest with you, I don’t think I have a problem with the Enugu State Government. The present governor is the man I believe so much in. He is a man I respect, a man I have trust, a man with high integrity and piety at the same time,” he said.
The embattled Toshel ED said he has petitioned Governor Mbah, seeking his intervention but was yet to receive any response.