Date Published: 09/08/09

Bulldozers threaten 70 in Rivers

AROUND 70 persons including children in Rivers State, one of Nigeria's key oil-producing states in the volatile Niger Delta area, will by this coming Saturday, be thrown to the streets, to further worsen the menace of homeless people in the oil and gas region.

They are said to be ''illegal occupants'' of a government Collrge of Education. Before the bulldozers roar in to tear down their shanties and huts, they have seven days to vacate the college land or use their tongues to count their teeth.

The Rivers State Government the previous Saturday gave those they described as ''illegal occupants'' of properties inside the state College of Education, Rumuolumeni, popularly called ''bitter leaf village'' seven days ultimatum to vacate the premises.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi gave the order Saturday during an unscheduled inspection tour of projects embarked upon by the state government in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Area which took him to the institution.

Similarly Governor Amaechi also gave the traders selling at the Big tree junction of the Rumuolumeni-Iwofe Road to move out of the area within seven days to allow free flow of traffic or face the wrath of government.

“Anyone staying back in the areas after the expiration of the ultimatum does so at his/her own risk”, the governor declared and advised the affected persons to seek alternative accommodation.

On the bad portions of the Wimpey-Rumuolumeni-Iwofe Road, the Governor directed the State Road Rehabilitation and Maintenance Agency to immediately commence rehabilitation work to ease the problems encountered by motorists and commuters on the road.

At the Ada George Road, where contract for its dualisation has been awarded, the State Chief Executive, directed the filling of the potholes on bad sessions of the road to allow free passage pending the end of the rains, for the contractor to mobilize to site.

In an interview with newsmen, the leader of the visiting French Senators, Mr. Jacque Legendra who accompanied the governor on the inspection tour expressed satisfaction with the development particularly in the area of qualitative education and self sufficiency in power supply.

Mr. Legendra said Nigeria should consider the provision of power as a priority and commended the State Governor for venturing into electricity generation while thanking him for getting some French nationals involved in the power project.

The French Senator noted that if the state achieves its vision in electricity supply, it would encourage small and medium scale enterprises as well as enhance economic growth since more people would be gainfully employed.

The inspection took the governor and the delegation to the Elekahia Model Primary School and Primary Health Center, Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine, Trans-Amadi-Oginigba, Rumuogba-Aba Road project.

Others include Community Secondary School, Rumumasi, the new Airport Road, Rumuokwuta-NTA-Choba Road and the Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte 1,000 bed Specialist Hospital at the Greater Port Harcourt City.