Charity expresses concern over potential homelessness for country’s citizens.
Amnesty— International, yesterday, called on the Rivers State government, to halt its planned demolitions and evictions in waterfront areas of Port Harcourt, arguing that it will leave over 200,000 people homelessness, if the threat is carried out.
Amnesty in a statement by its Deputy African Programme Director, Tawanda Hondora, said “these planned demolitions are likely to plunge hundreds of thousands of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens further into poverty. The government should halt the waterfront evictions until it ensures they comply with international human rights standards.”
The Rivers State government claims the demolition of the waterfronts was necessary to implement the Greater Port Harcourt Master Plan, an urban renewal project launched in 2009.
The development of the waterfront promenade is a central feature of the Master Plan, which encompasses the whole city, but full details have not been made public.
“None of the affected communities have been adequately consulted about these urban renewal plans and this has resulted in a great deal of uncertainty and insecurity. The government must make every effort to identify alternatives to evictions, using them only as a last resort,” he said
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