Valuer Decries Conversion Of Residential Accomodations

An Estate Surveyor and Valuer in Port Harcourt, Mr. Benjamin Oti, has decried the rate of conversion of residential accommodations in Port Harcourt to commercial uses particularly in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, which he said, has led to traffic challenges in the area.

Speaking in a chat with The Tide in Port Harcourt, Mr. Oti who specializes in environmental management, said many residential houses have now been converted to ware houses and markets.

He gave instance of serious traffic challenges being witnessed at the Ojoto axis of Diobu where some properties meant for residence have been concerted to ware houses for liquor sales which have also created some environmental challenges as well.

The environmental expert also decried the attitude of governmental agencies who were supposed to check the menance, but have done nothing about it, thereby making it look as if any body can wake up any day and site any business any where without control.

According to him “In an ideal society businesses are localized and provisions are made for commercial and residential accommodation, and government agencts responsible for their control are always there to do their work.

Oti therefore called on government of Rivers State to wade into the issue and not allow individual business operators to deface the beauty of the metropolis by un-necessary conversion of residential houses to commercial.

Even with the vision and focus of the present administration in the state on Urban renewal, he said that proper measures should be put in place to control the menace.

Corlins Walter