Evans Bipi, Rivers commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, has issued a seven-day notice to commence clearing Port Harcourt city of slums and illegal waste dumpsites.
The commissioner gave the notice on Saturday shortly after an enforcement operation at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Area in Port Harcourt.
Mr Bipi expressed concern about the operations of scavengers at the Trans-Amadi industrial area, who currently occupy large hectares of private lands and use them for sorting and assemblage of solid waste.
He condemned the proliferation of illegal dumpsites and shanties in business areas and advised occupants to vacate affected properties that had already been marked for demolition.
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“Scavengers here are contributing to environmental hazards, their operation is highly unacceptable, and this administration will no longer continue to allow them to deface our residential and industrial areas.
“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.
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David Ogbanga, chairperson of the ministry’s Special Committee on Development Control, also assured of efforts towards sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Mr Ogbanga, apart from defacing the city outlook, slums impede urbanisation, 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 and protect residents,” he said.
(NAN)
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