Business
RSG Warns Land Developers, Traders Over Encroachment … Insists On Plan Approval From Ministry
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr T. W. Danagogo has warned property developers and street traders in Port Harcourt, particularly those within the zoo and Trans-Amadi area to restrict themselves to areas designated for such purposes and desist from converting every available space for market and construction of shanties.
Dr Danagogo who handed down the warning, Tuesday, when his ministry and the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council carried out a massive joint operation at the precincts of the Port Harcourt zoo at Trans Amadi said the operation was to recover and sanitise the precincts of the zoo and the entire Slaughter area by getting rid of the shanties, and petty traders that have over-taken the whole environment.
He said “prior to this exercise, the illegal occupants have been given over one year notice, and government cannot allow the growing ugly trend and nuisance in the area to continue unabated.”
The commissioner also insisted that all developers must obtain approval for their building plans from the Ministry of Urban Development or Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority for areas within the new city.
Danagogo further said that government has earmarked the recovered area for gardens and private car parking lot while work on the project would commence immediately in partnership with the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council. He said that a situation whereby traders store and display wares right inside the zoo premises was unacceptable and that zoo facilities all over the world serves as conservation and tourist destination.
The operation which lasted over eight hours was jointly supervised by the commissioner and the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Council, Mr Chimbiko Akarolo.
Mr Akarolo remarked that the joint operation was basically aimed at joining forces with the urban development ministry in line with the urban renewal and transformation agenda of Governor Amaechi’s administration.