The Rivers State
Government has commenced the demolition of structures which are impeding the
free flow of water along the creeks, canals and other waterways in the state.
This move, according to
the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), became necessary to avert
severe flooding which is already ravaging parts of the state occasioned by
heavy rains across the country.
RIWAMA’s Director of
Administration, Mr. Ian Gobo who led the operation, stated that the Sole
Administrator of the Agency, Bro. Felix Obuah had in the past weeks warned
residents and land developers in the state, especially in Port Harcourt and
Obio Akpor LGAs not to erect structures on the waterways, adding that the
National Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had listed Rivers State among what they
called the ‘flash floods location’.
The demolition exercise
which began on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, saw the pulling down of two
structures which were erected right on the waterway of the Mini Ekere creek in
Rumuobiakani, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
Using a massive swamp
boogie for the operation, the RIWAMA officials levelled the structures which
were built behind No. 10B Enugu Street, Rumuobiakani.
On Thursday, the team
moved to No. 3 Valley Close, Rumuogba, where a one-storey apartment had
encroached into the same creek and completely blocked the water channel, a
situation that forced the water to veer off its course thus threatening to
submerge several buildings along the creek.
Residents of
surrounding shanties, including those on the imposing one-storey building
watched as the swamp boogie pulled down the fence of the apartment, even as
people were seen working anxiously to re-erect another illegal fence on the
waterway.
However, to ensure that
the law takes its course, Mr. Gobo and some senior health officials of RIWAMA
issued an abatement notice of 90 days which they served the owner of No. 3
Valley Close, Rumuogba to enable him move out and also pull down the structure.
The house owner was
also issued a stop work order in view of desperate attempts to erect another
fence on the waterway.
Some residents from the
surrounding shanties in the Creek alleged that there had been attempts by the
past administrations in the state to demolish the house but that government
officials had compromised and never returned to carry out the demolition.
“This house has existed
for over 15 years and past governments had either ignored it or failed to take
appropriate action. We are also aware that even his fellow landlords have
advised him to cut off the house from the creek so that water could flow on its
natural route,” said a resident.
Mr. Ian Gobo later told
journalists that the residents around the Rumuogba Estate complained about the
heavy flooding following the recent rainfalls, a situation that prompted the
inspection and discovery that structures had been erected which obstructed the
free flow of water at the Creek.
“This house, 3 Valley
Close, Rumuogba Estate is built right in the middle of the river and as a
result is diverting the free flow of water from its natural course. It is also
creating erosion on the other banks and the people living there are suffering
the consequence of the action of the landlord,” Gobo said, adding that these
were issues being confronted by RIWAMA on daily basis along the creeks, canals
and other waterways.
He advised developers
to build within their own confines and not use the waterways as part of their
buildings, adding that those who contravened the rules would have themselves to
blame.
Mr. Gobo disclosed that
the team would by next week, move to the creeks at Rumukalagbor and warned those
whose structures have blocked the water ways to remove them before the visit.
“We have reports that
so many bridges have been created to access their houses. These bridges have
piers and these piers stop the free flow of water,” he said, adding that cases
of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the waters also abound.
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