RSG Begins Demolition Of Illegal Billboards In PH

In its efforts to restore the
status of the Port Harcourt as the Garden City, the Rivers State Government has commenced the demolition of illegal billboards and signposst in the state capital with the view to sanitise the city and keep it off pollution.
The Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Hon Chinyere Igwe, who commenced the demolition exercise last Thursday warned agencies who involve in placing billboards and signposts to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
Hon Igwe enjoined agencies to always consult the ministry and obtain approval and locations from the ministry before mounting any billboards and signposts in the Port Harcourt city and its environs, stressing that illegal structures and billboards have distorted and polluted the state, reinstating that the present government was determined to sanitise the state capital and restore its lost glory as the garden city of the nation.
The commissioner ordered commercial vehicle operators and traders under Abali park fly over to vacate immediately, warning that transporters should carry out their business activities at designated motor carriage built by the government.
According to him,’’ there is no motor park at the fly over and no authorised market there too. As from Monday, we shall commence enforcement to stop all illegal parks in the state with the view to control the development of the city’’.
He warned that the exercise was not targeted at anybody or to victimise political opponents but to implement the law that establishing urban development and physical renewal 2003 and the advertisement and signage agency law 2015 established by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Speaking while the exercise was on, the Managing Director, Rivers State Signage and Advertisement (RISAA),Chris Olisa informed that the agency was established for urban control, adding that the Agency also register outdoor advertisement in the state.
Olisa further said the Agency also function in synergy with the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning to ensure that approvals were obtained from the ministry before billboards are mounted in the state, urging the public to always apply for approval from the ministry before signposts and billboards were placed.

Ike Wigodo/ Oluchi Nnnabugwu