The commencement of the demolition of two buildings belonging to the Bayelsa State Government by the Rivers State Government in Akassa Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt on Friday increased tension between the two states.
The buildings occupying an expanse of land were being used as residential quarters for workers of the Bayelsa State Government Liaison Office in Port Harcourt before the demolition.
Already, the Bayelsa State government has expressed dissatisfaction with the demolition, calling on the governor and people of Rivers State to have some restraints with the demolition. All the workers had moved out of the buildings following a 14-day quit notice issued to them by the Rivers government. It was gathered that at 10:20 am, escalators and caterpillars began pulling down the buildings while armed security operatives monitored the scene.
Policemen were said to have prevented journalists from taking pictures and entering the building. One of those evicted from the buildings and an employee of the Bayelsa State Liaison office in Port Harcourt, Pastor Isaac Board said he hurriedly packed out of the building.
He said: “I have no place to stay as I speak to you. I and my family slept in the corridor of a friend’s place last night. We are workers with the Bayelsa State, so let the government come to our aid by giving us a place to stay.”
Another victim and Administration Officer at the Liaison office, Woseebimu Frank-Oputu said he was presently staying at the church with his family.
He said: “It was my pastor that came with a truck to carry my property. I and my family are putting up in the church”. The occupants were initially served a notice signed by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Survey, Sir Alozie Nwala, and dated April 19th.
The notice read: “That in contravention of the covenants and conditions contained in the Certificate of Occupancy issued to Bayelsa State Government in respect of plots 34&35 (No 5 Akassa Stree and plot 37 (No 9 Akassa Street ) Golf Course Extension Layout, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, notice is hereby given by the Rivers State Government that the occupants of the said property should vacate. Take notice that the occupants of the above-mentioned properties are hereby given 14 days from the date of this notice to vacate buildings thereon.
“As the said buildings are not only constituting public nuisance but also defacing the Rivers State Government’s Urban Renewal Infrastructural Development Policies as relates to the Golf Course Old GRA Layout. Take further notice that at the expiration of this notice, Rivers State Government will take possession of the properties”.
Frowning at the development, the Bayelsa State Government said as sister states, issues between the states can be amicably resolved without recourse to the demolition of the properties at Number 5 and 9 Akassa Street, Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
According to Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Andrew Esua, both governors had discussed in 2021 when the Rivers State Government first served the Bayelsa State Government the notice for immediate renovation of the property and other subsequent notifications.
Esua hinted that the matter may be taken before the courts. “I set my people in motion again to move straight and then ensure that our officers in the properties are safe so that we can maybe get alternative areas while we take some legal steps.
“Our people are actually safe. Some of their properties are actually outside as you can see. Today, they sent me a clip that demolition has commenced. Some of the roofs have already been deroofed, the main buildings, you can see cracks in the main buildings, the bulldozer is there. So, definitely, even their lives are no longer safe”, he said.
