The Rivers State Government has declared that there was no going back on the demolition of illegal structures in Port Harcourt and its environs.

The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Auten Ben-Chioma, disclosed this while addressing journalists during the continuation of the demolition of illegal structures in the Trans Amadi Industrial layout of Port Harcourt.

Ben-Chioma said the demolition became necessary due to the several makeshift structures in that axis, saying Trans Amadi was one of the well-planned areas of the metropolis.

The commissioner urged residents and business owners to complement government urban renewal efforts, just as he appealed to companies not to let their premises to people to erect illegal structures.

“Let me use this medium to also tell Rivers people, especially residents of Port Harcourt metropolis that anybody that has illegal structures anywhere should remove it before we come. We will be in their neighbourhood faster than they think. So, it is important that we tell them to remove it before we come.

“Whether it is town, Borikiri or Diobu, as long as it is in Port Harcourt, we will bring it down. Port Harcourt must be brought back to its Garden city status.

“Let our people help themselves by removing those illegal structures before we come because when we get there, we will not listen to anybody,” he stated.

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