Rights Group Seeks End To Forceful Demolition

A human rights organisation in Port Harcourt, the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (IHRHL), has said that it is looking up to the time when government would no longer use force to demolish peoples properties and home in Nigeria.

Executive Director of the Institute, Anyankwe Nsirimovu, who made this known in Port Harcourt in an interaction with journalists explained that a situation where government just come up with the idea of demolition of any section of the city without a proper dialogue and understanding with the people affected is not a proper decision and is unacceptable.

He said, “If people are carried along at every stage of the programme and are part of the programme with adequate compensation paid to them for resettlement, then it is no longer a forceful eviction.”

According to him, when people that are to be affected on any government urban renewal policy are contacted and carried along on the process, that there will be no room for grievance and agitation, since their interest will be taken care of.

Nsirimovu therefore urged government both at state and federal levels to always carry the people along and give them what is adequate for a resettlement so as to forestall agitation, as well as respect their rights to habitation and living.

Corlins Walter