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The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Onne Port Complex in Rivers State commences the demolition of illegal structures at Federal Ocean Terminal (FOT) along the Port access roads and the junction, Onne Rivers State.
The action was done in collaboration with the Federal Highway Unit of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Eleme Local Government, Police, NAVY Nigerian Port Commandant Outfit, JTF, Directorate of State Service (DSS), Port Authority Police (PAP), Onne Police Division, Onne Port MOPOL and other security agencies.
The action of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was premised on risk assessment of illegal traders operations at the junction, observing that trucks laden with containers may put lives in danger in case of accidents and observed wave of criminality and congestion in the area, hence the decision to carry out the demolition. The decision was consequently arrived at after series of meetings and dialogues were held with stakeholders for smooth traffic movement.
Speaking at the venue of the demolition, the Ag Port Manager, Onne Port, Mrs. Barbara Ejemeh Nchey-Achukwu, who stood in for the Port Manager Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar, who is the chairman of the demolition of illegal structure committee said the area undergoing demolition is expected to be an open space without structures for smooth traffic movement.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Onne Management had sent a lot of quit notices to the occupant of the illegal structures, emphasizing on the implication of the continuous trading on the road median. “It is risky trading on such hazardous place, and in event of accident, it could be disastrous”, the Ag Onne Port Manager stated.
The Port management observed that the illegal structures erected by traders have security implication, as criminals often use such shanties to hide and plot their crimes including kidnapping.
The Acting Onne Port Manager Mrs. Achukwu however commended the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman for her support in embarking on the demolition of the illegal structures at Onne Port, FOT Junction.
She also commended the Executive Director Marine Operations Dr. Sokonte Davies and the Port Manager Alhassan Ismaila Abubakar for their leadership role on the demolition of the illegal shops at the centre; she said that the Port Manager set the pace for the collaboration of the Terminal Operators like Intels that supplied the bulldozer for the demolition of the illegal structures, and Brawal that supplied the forklift.
Also speaking Engr. Enwereama Tarilade, Head of Department Federal Highways at the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Secretariat, Port Harcourt confirmed that NPA Onne Port had reported the matter prompting quit notice being sent to the traders of illegal structures to quit.
“These trading activities in this portion of land at FOT junction is a dangerous one, and illegal business activities. If accident occurs here, the casualty will be too high. So as representative of Federal Government in charge of Highways, we don’t want it. The illegal trading here must stop”, Mrs Torilade of Federal Highway Unit of Federal Ministry of Works stated.
Meanwhile, the demolition exercise lasted about 8hours from 0800hrs to 1500hrs Saturday, January 5th, 2019. No fewer than 200 illegal shops/structures may have been removed during the demolition exercise. At the end, the whole of the area was cleared of all the illegal structures.
Head of Federal Road Safety Corps in charge of Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) Mr. Igwe Arinze commended the decision of the Onne Port Management to demolish the illegal structure. He said that the benefit of the exercise is to protect lives and property from accidents which he said may be fatal. He said the demolition will also improve not only safety but security of operators/visitors at Onne Port.
Mr. Arinze also commended the wisdom of Onne Port Manager Alhassan Abubakar for this initiative, describing him as a seasoned administrator.
Mr. Monday Oshiemi, Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications, said the demolition exercise does not have any community issues. He said the community is aware of the action, and they are supportive. He however faulted the attitude of traders for not dismantling their illegal structures before now, despite quit notices given to them.
Mr. Emmanuel Inyang, who represented the Safety Department of NPA, Onne Port describes the demolition exercise as hitch-free. He said there were no incident recorded, and no loss of life during the exercise.
