The structures, purported to be refuse receptacles, which the past administration built around Port Harcourt Metropolis have attracted the ire of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a motion brought before the House, yesterday, Hon. Chidi Lyoyd (Emohua Constituency) condemned the construction of the structures, which he described as illegal, by the Rivers State Ministry of Environment.
Hon. Llyod averred that the structures have defaced the city of Port Harcourt and its environs as well as constituting public nuisance, noting that the state Ministry of Environment has violated the environmental, urban and town planning laws of Rivers State as well as the current demolition of illegal structures policy of the state government.
He, therefore, prayed the House to among other things, direct the Ministry of Environment to embark on the immediate demolition of the structures as well as direct the ministry to refund the money expended on the project to serve as a deterrent to other ministries and agencies in the future.
The state lawmaker also prayed the House to make other resolutions that may be necessary in the interest of the state.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Okeah Anthony (Obio/Akpor Constitutency11) said the motion was timely and urgent, considering the enormous waste of public fund that was expended on the project.
He, therefore, urged the state lawmakers to urgently give attention to the motion so as to protect the state from being defaced with illegal structures.
In their contributions, Hon. Collins Ordu (Obio/Akpor 1), Chioma Golden Ngozi (Etche 11), Onari Brown (Akuku/Toru)and Badom Bariyima, representing Gokana Constituency commended the sponsor of the motion, adding that the projects were of no value to the state.
The honourable members agreed in the totality of the prayers sought by Hon. Chidi Llyod and urged the House to constitute an ad-hoc committee to look into the matter.
He described the project as a miniature oven which has constituted an eye sore to the original outlook of the Port Harcourt City.
However, in their dissenting view, Hon. Ibani Owaji (Andoni), Eye pepple (Bonny), Lucky Odili (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni 11), Tamuno Maureen, (Ogu/Bolo) and Hon. Hope Ikiriko, representing Ahoada West Constituency, opined that the timing of that motion was belated noting that the motion would have been better appreciated, if it was sponsored when those structures were being constructed.
The lawmakertated that the idea of constructing the structures may not be a bad one rather what may be considered as wrong in the project was the citing, the House not to be quick in the demolition buther should invite the respective ministries and agencies responsible for the construction of the structures to appear before the House to explain the rationale behind the project.
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry,who presided over sitting, commended the lawmakers for their contributions to the motion, and directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Alex Nwala to invite the permanent secretaries and directors of Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Environmental Sanitation Authority to appear before it by tomorrow.
