The Rivers State Government yesterday commended the process
of payment of about N2.1bn compensation to landlords and property owners at the
Abonnema Wharf waterfront in Port Harcourt in line with its urban renewal
policy.

Addressing the landlords and other stakeholders at the
auditorium of the Ministry of Justice at the state secretariat, Port Harcourt,
the Hon Commissioner for Urban Development, Hon Tammy Danagogo assured that the
process of payment of the compensation which begins today will be transparent
and inclusive of all genuine interest as no property owner will be left out.

Hon Danagogo, disclosed that modalities had already been put
in place to ensure that the complaints that trailed the payment of compensation
to Njemanze waterfront landlord is properly addressed.

Apart from the valuation, assessment and verification of
existing properties at the Abonnema waterfront, the commissioner said two
committees will be set up to supervise the process of payment and  receive complaints from property owners
respectively.

He explained that the two committees will comprise of the
consultants involved in the exercise and nominees from the ministry.

According to the commissioner, the initiative is to ensure
that the process of payment of the compensation is to a large extent,
independent of the ministry’s involvement.

Hon Danagogo further appealed to the property owners to see
the acquisition of the area as part of their contributions to the development
of the state, and restated the commitment of the Rivers State Government
towards the transformation of the area.

Also speaking, the Hon commissioner for Information and
Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari called for the cooperation from the people
of Rivers State to make the urban renewal effort of the government a reality.

The commissioner, said the acquisition of the land was not a
punishment for the people but was geared towards the promotion of the standard
of living of the people.

Stakeholders at the event commended the state government for
its gesture, and called on the government to deal directly with the property
owners in the payment of the compensation.

The Tide recalls that as part of its urban renewal policy,
the Rivers Government had planned demolition of all waterfronts in Port
Harcourt since 2008.

Also at the event were representatives of the World Bank
NGOs and foreign observers.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has ordered the
immediate stoppage of work on all dredging activities in the state.

A statement signed by the state commissioner for
environment, entitled: “Stop Work Order” and made available to The Tide in Port
Harcourt, last Wednesday, listed the form of dredging activities affected by
the order to include surface mining of laterite in the state.

According to the ministry, the order became necessary
following the quest by the state government to protect the environment from the
negative impact of indiscriminate and unregulated dredging operations.

“This became necessary as the government, in her quest to
protect the environment from the negative impact of indiscriminate and
unregulated dredging operations, has decided to re-evaluate and re-engineer
dredging and surface mining of sand and laterite in Rivers State, particularly
around Greater Port Harcourt City axis,” it said.

While warning that any violation of the order shall be met
with the appropriate punishment, the ministry also directed all operators in
the dredging and surface mining industry in the state, to contact the dredging
and monitoring unit of the ministry for further directive.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment has
invited all environmental consultants, analytical laboratories and other
professionals to apply for registration with the ministry to undertake services
such as sand search, bathymetric survey and hydrological survey.

They have also been tasked to apply to undertake
hydro-graphic survey, environmental impact assessment (EIA), and environmental
assessment report (EAR).