6 August 2009
Lagos — As various state governments embark on demolition of structures for urban renewal and in some cases beautification, people and businesses are naturally being displaced. But while some governments put a bold face to it arguing that most of the displaced people were not supposed to be at the affected areas, the Rivers State government under Hon. Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi is showing that despite its might and legal rights, government can be humane and sensitive.
Gov Amaechi has announced plans to pay over N20 billion as compensation to people whose property are demolished in the twin bid for urban renewal and cleaning up areas that provide settings for crime.
Most of the people to benefit from the "benevolent demolition" are those around the Njemanze water front in Port Harcourt. Although most of the structures are mere shanties and ramshackle homes, sometimes built even on or across gutters/ drainage lines, and their owners could not be said to have certificates of occupancy for them, the government has concluded plans to pay them compensation. This is applicable to all cases of demolition exercises in the state even for owners of buildings in expanded roads in the city.
Not only is it desirable that enough notice is given to residents before the demolitions and compensations are paid before the demolition is done. Better still is the fact that the tough conditions like insisting on the production of Certificate of Occupancy usually attached to payment of such compensations is done away with.
Although it is obvious that most of the people affected by demolition of structures in the on-going urban renewal exercise of state government's were not supposed to be there in the first place, it is understood that they were there to eke a living for themselves and their families. Poverty and the harness of the socio-economic conditions of the country have pushed many to live in inhuman environments.
So while it is legally right to turn the blind eye to needs of displaced people, we believe that but it is a social necessity to have a thought for their future.
The decision to pay the compensation shows that government shares the feelings of victims of its actions, even when such action is for the ultimate good of the state. This is shown again by the fact that in the Rivers case, the said water-fronts have been the habitat of most criminals in the state. Destroying the shanties which are described as "unsightly", without payment of compensation could well be hinged on the need to rid the state of the criminals who often hibernate in such places. It is just not enough destroying people's homes in a blind pursuit of urban renewal programmes, some thought should be spared those who will be displaced. And that is what Gov Amaechi has done.
The payment of the compensation therefore affirms Amaechi's declaration that he "shares the fears, concerns and the pains of the residents of the water fronts and will do everything necessary and possible to support them."
He also noted, "...this administration is implementing this policy with a human face and wants to ensure that those that will be displaced will be able to find better alternatives "
It is even better that government will not only demolish the structures but will eventually develop the area with modern housing estates, which it plans to sell back to the original residents.
In the light of the care and thoughtfulness spared the poor of the state in this exercise, we commend the Amaechi government and duly recommend it as a model in the humanization of government programmes across the country.
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