The Delta State Government, on Saturday, began an inspection of buildings sitting on top of natural waterways.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the inspection was led by the state’s Director General on Special Duties, Chief Frank Omare.
Omare was accompanied by Emordi Ikechukwu- a surveyor from JEFCON Engineering and Consulting Firm.
The inspectors visited Ugboroke, Ekpan, Uti, and Alegbo communities in Warri, Delta State.
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However, Omare stated that the awareness journey will reach all 25 local government areas in the state.
During the journey, he urged the owners of the buildings obstructing the free flow of water to demolish the building by themselves, stressing that blocking the natural waters ways was against the rules of the environment.
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According to him, those who built were doing their businesses at the expense of the common people.
He warned that the government will show no mercy and will not be selective in the operation.
Notably, the former commissioner for environment revealed that some of the affected buildings were approved legally, illegally, and by the state ministry.
For the ones approved by the state ministry, Omare told owners to present their approval documents or papers.
He added that the Government will compensate those affected so that the building can go.
Furthermore, he warned individuals who see the drainage of dumb sites to desist from the act as the new government was interested in urban renewal.
He said:
“I am here on behalf of the government and the good people of Delta State. For some time now, if there is little rain everywhere is flooded. And the rains are yet to come. If you watch very well, a lot of buildings are standing on waterways and we can not allow it as a responsible government.
“Some of them are illegally approved, while some are legally approved. Some of them do not even have approvals at all. My office has been directed by the government of Delta State to go round and identify and pull down those structures that are blocking the natural waterways.
“Those who have blocked the natural waterways either knowingly or unknowingly because in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Ughelli, and other major cities people just recklessly take laws into their hands. Either they go an approval wrongly or rightly this is a waterway.
“When rain falls, everywhere becomes flooded. And the rain does not select a big man’s house or a poor man’s house. As a responsible government, we cannot all this to continue. Time are hard.
“We’re appealing to those building owners to evacuate because the government swamp buggy is coming. When it comes, we’re going to clear it from beginning to the end so that people can be peaceful.
“If you ask a household to produce their waste bin, you won’t see one. Everybody has seen the drainage as a waste bin. It has ended.
“And I will be very firm on behalf of the government and the people of Delta State. I will do anything humanly possible to see that all is well in terms of the environment. It’s not something I’d want to compromise.
“And that is why peacefully I’m going round the entire state to appeal to people to remove their buildings by their hands or the government is going to remove them with the way we should. It’s not about Governor Sheriff.
“It’s not about Frank Omare; it’s about the government of Delta State which care about the suffering of the people in the area of environment.
“We will see both those in government who have disobeyed government the laws of government. It’s not about tribe, political party, poor man, or rich man. We must do what is right. No selection so that everybody will know that government is not selective in doing what it ought to do.
“The message is that I’m giving them few hours, not few days to evacuate before the arrival of the swam buggy of the Delta State government to clear everywhere at all the 35 local governments areas. We’re getting a mobile court that will go with us.
“We’re restricting people on the roadside under the high tensions so that our people can be safe. This government cannot comprise it because Hon Sherrif Oborovweri means well for the people of Delta State.”
