Residents and property owners along the proposed Port Harcourt Ring Road have lamented bitterly over the state government selection of structures in some areas for demolition. They contended that most of them would be rendered homeless as a result of construction of the ring road.
In the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, those living along Abakiliki Road, Uruala Street, Iloabuchi Street, etc who would be affected by the project are trying to relocate but are constrained financially and inability to find choice areas.
Some landlords and tenants who spoke with our Reporters deployed the areas the state government had mapped out for demolition. They told our Reporters that the state government abandoned its initial plan to construct the ring road across the Elechi Waterside.
An elder statesman who has a two bedroom flat in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, Chinda Wobo in an interview complained bitterly about the turn around by government. He said that though, the project was a good development but hardship should not be inflicted on the people in the name of development.
Wobo said the proposed road project was not in the initial plan, maintaining that the 9.5 metre road which was about 30 feet was outrageous. He further explained that if 30 feet were taken from a house of 50 feet, then the whole house would have been taken.
Elder Wobo further explained that some of the buildings that worth N50m compensation are been valued at N2m, while buildings that worth N100m are been offered N10m and those without C of O asked to forfeit it.
