By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Displaced residents of waterfront areas in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State have called on the Governor Wike-led administration to provide alternative accommodation for them, as they have nowhere to stay following the demolition of their homes.
The Rivers State Government on January 29, 2022 began demolishing waterfront settlements in Diobu axis of Port Harcourt as part of measures to curb the activities of criminals, some of who are believed to use the waterfronts as hideouts.
While some of the displaced residents have managed to find alternative accommodation elsewhere, others seem to have nowhere to relocate to, as some of these displaced persons have large families made up of mostly children and unemployed adults.
One of those affected, a mother of six who hails from Akwa Ibom State, told journalists on Tuesday that the demolition of their apartment at Elechi Waterfront left her disorganized.
She explained that if it had not been her one of her friends, who came to her rescue, she and her children would have been stranded.
Narrating her ordeal in Pidgin English, she said: “I no know say dem go come that day o. I just dey prepare my market before I come see their Caterpillar. I no plan anything like say make I pack my things. As they start, na im I hurry hurry gather some of our things. I no know where to go but God help me as I call my friend, na im she say make we come.
“Me and my children, we carry our things go her house. Na one room but we dey manage stay there like that.”
The woman, who said her husband was sick in the village, begged the government to help those affected by the demolition.
“We dey beg government people to help us. This thing affect many people. E get those wey never get anywhere to stay. You know say house dey cost for Port Harcourt. So, e no dey easy. Make dem help us abeg.”
At another demolition site in Iloabuchi waterfront, a man who said his house was demolished without compensation said the action left him confused.
According to him, “I have lived here for more than thirty years and nobody has worried me. My children grew up here and we are used to this place because some of us do fish and wood business which are brought through the river here. Now, they came and pulled down my house.
“My house is a small bungalow with 3 rooms. The other one I rent out is 4 rooms. They also pull it down and my tenants are scattered, they don’t know what to do. Me too, am confused; I don’t know what to do. Na my town brother who is living at Wokoma, na im save me, otherwise my things will be outside now.”
On whether they were not given a notice before the demolition, the man who said he was from Anambra State, said they heard rumours of the impending demolition but did not believe it would be soon.
“We heard rumours that they want to demolish this place but we thought they would give us time and even pay us compensation before the demolition. But they did not. It’s not fair. See how people are suffering,” he said.
Further investigation revealed that those suffering most over the demolition are women, especially widows, and children.
A widow, who has seven children, lamented that life would be harder for her from now unless help came her way. She said: “I be widow and I no get anybody to help me. Now dey wan demolish our house, where we go go?”
Meanwhile, the plight of the displaced waterfronts residents has attracted the attention of the civil society in Rivers State, who condemned the suffering the affected residents have been subjected to.
