Abia State government has given landlords in Umuahia four weeks to renovate their buildings or face the consequences of government actions.

It said the buildings were dirty and defacing the beauty of the city.

The State government also announced that shanties and other illegal projections in Umuahia are to be pulled down in the next few days by Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu announced this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He lamented that many buildings in Umuahia have not been maintained or given facelift for many years by their owners, thereby defacing the beauty of the Abia capital and sabotaging the efforts of the State government in urban beatification.

“The State government has observed with dismay that many landlords have not carried out routine maintenance or facelift on their buildings for years.

“These buildings currently deface the city thereby setting back the efforts of the State government to beautify Umuahia.

“Landlords that disregard this directive will face the consequences”, the Abia State government warned.

The Commissioner also announced that Abia State government has employed 649 medical personnel to work in the State’s healthcare system.

Kanu explained that the newly employed medical personnel included 432 nurses and one neurosurgeon.