Rivers Not One City State – Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has debunked claims that the State was fast becoming a one city state pointing out that the Greater Port Harcourt City scheme was an encompassing master plan to spread development to about eight local government areas.

Speaking with newsmen after carrying out a routine inspection of some areas that fall within the Greater Port Harcourt master plan on Monday in the company of the Commissioner for Urban Development and the Administrator of the authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, Amaechi said in the nearest future urban centres would spread to adjunct cities.

He explained,” by the fact that we called the place Greater Port Harcourt does not mean it’s Port Harcourt alone. We named it Greater Port Harcourt because we needed to ensure that there was no controversy on ownership”.

According to the Governor, the new urban plan covers eight local government areas including, Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Eleme. Oyigbo, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Etche saying, “I don’t think it’s a one city state by the nature and spread. You know Port Harcourt is sprawling in terms of development and is heading towards that way and we want to control development and build a new city”.

He therefore warned land speculators to steer clear of the acquired areas,” anybody who is going there to buy land buys land based on his or her own risk,” he noted.

The Governor however, assured that house owners within the area would be compensated, especially those who had acquired property before the new city plan was unveiled. “Compensation will be paid to such persons. If you had bought land there and built your own house and they are quite many of those people, we will pay compensation to them. But if after the law you still went ahead to buy land and build your house against the law, the chances are that you will not get compensation.”

Rt Hon Amaechi further stressed the need for the citizenry to adhere to development laws of the state as he warned that government would not condone haphazard building developments within and outside the city.

Meanwhile, the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPCDA) is set to commence the development of the first phase of the scheme next month.

Governor Amaechi gave the hint Monday saying mapping and construction of infrastructure would form part of the new scheme.

“I have equally directed them to ensure that those who own land can be allowed to develop their properties according to the plan as more properties will be acquired in the future”, he said.

The first phase would cover infrastructure, roads, industrial areas and residential areas within the Central Business District(CBD) and the design is expected to provide a standard for building development that would sprout in the area.

Already the GPCDA has called for pre-qualification tender for the design of infrastructure for the CBD covering Igwuruta and Aluu areas. Also the design of the Industrial Areas at Elelewno/Eleme and Oyigbo are billed to commence soon