Rivers govt issues 7-day ultimatum as it sets to begin demolition
Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara
Published By: Isa Isawade
The Rivers State Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to residents of Port Harcourt to evacuate as it is set to begin demolition of shanties.
Mr Evans Bipi, Rivers Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued the notice on Saturday in Port Harcourt.
Bipi expressed concern about the activities of scavengers at the Trans-Amadi industrial area who currently occupy large hectares of private lands using them for sorting and assemblage of solid waste.
He condemned the act of proliferation of illegal dumpsites as well as shanties in business areas and advised occupants to vacate affected properties which had already been marked for demolition.
“Scavengers here are contributing to environmental hazards, their operation is highly unacceptable. This administration will no longer continue to allow them to deface our residential and industrial areas.
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“We have given occupants seven days to vacate affected properties as we shall commence waste clearing and demolition of shanties in the area.
“Property owners should refrain from leasing their properties to operators of unapproved and hazardous businesses or face the full weight of the law,” the commissioner warned.
Mr David Ogbanga, Chairman, Special Committee on Development Control of the ministry also assured of efforts towards sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Ogbanga, apart from defacing the city outlook, slums impede urbanization, and they constitute a breeding ground for miscreants as well as hideouts for criminals and perpetrators of all forms of social vices.
“We will put an end to this in the coming days, our enforcement team will begin demolition to restore serenity to our city as well as protect residents,” he said.
