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A major crisis is looming between Rivers and Bayelsa states as the Rivers State Government has threatened to take over the Bayelsa State property located in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt.
The development has left Bayelsa civil servants occupying the 12-flat property at Plots 34, 35 (5, Akassa Street) and Plot 37 (9, Akassa Street) Golf Course Extension Layout, Port Harcourt, apprehensive.
The April 19 eviction notice signed by River State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Alozie Nwala, read: “That in contravention of the covenants and conditions contained in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued to Bayelsa State Government in respect of Plots 34 ad 35 (5, Akassa Stree and Plot 37 (9, Akassa Street) Golf Course Extension Layout, Port Harcourt, notice is hereby given by the Rivers State Government that occupants of the said property should vacate.
“Take notice that occupants of the mentioned property are given 14 days from date of this notice to vacate buildings thereon. The said buildings not only constituting public nuisance, but also defacing Rivers Government’s Urban Renewal Infrastructural Development Policies as relates to the Golf Course Old GRA Layout.
“Take further notice that at expiration of this notice, Rivers State Government will take possession of the properties.”
Head, Protocol for the Bayelsa State Government, Smith Noah, one of the occupants jolted by the development said: “Some people came to paste a notice that we are causing nuisance and defacing the environment. So Rivers State Government is giving us 14 days to pack out.
“We are not staying here on our own. We are Bayelsa State Government workers. We were thinking that if there is anything that the Rivers State Government wants to do with us, we have an office here and the Rivers State Government knows the office.
“Ordinarily they would have served the Bayelsa State government if there is any reason for us to vacate this place.
Unfortunately, few days ago, we heard information that they are coming to demolish this place. So we have informed our superior and they said we should wait that they have already served the Rivers State Government with a court order.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) I was assigned to do a job at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. On my way my neighbour called that more than 50 vans came to vacate us. When I came back the officials said said they were giving us till (Thursday) to pack out.
“I have been here for five years now. But you can see we are removing our things instead of somebody to come and destroy our property.
When Vanguard visited the property, some of the troubled occupants were seen moving their belongings out of the property in anticipation of the Rivers government team coming to carry out the threat contained in the eviction notice on its expiration. (Vanguard)
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