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Demolitions: Fuel storage tanks built in residential areas of Abomena Warf

27 January, Abomena Community - Community members met at Abonema Community Hall to rally those opposing the large-scale demolition of poor, residential areas of Port Harcourt and the building of dangerous fuel tanks in densely populated areas.

Local NGO Social Action said the meeting was imperative because of the recent commitment by the Rivers State Governor, Chuibuike Amaechi, that the demolitions must continue.

Community members condemned the situation where thousands of people in Njemanze were evicted from their homes by the military last year with armoured tanks and weapons.

“The demolition of Njemanze waterfront was done with reckless disobedience to international appeals that due process should be followed,” one said, “The Njemanze people whose houses where demolished last year by government are now refugees in their homeland.”

Abomena is currently subject to ongoing residential demolitions. There are large fuel storage tanks in the middle of this densely populated area of Port Harcourt and more are currently being built.

“The Tanks are loaded with imported fuel right now,” explained one community member, “The building of Fuel Tank Farms in the middle of the community is hazardous, barbaric and against International standards,” he said.

Civil Society and the waterfront communities have urged the government to suspend all demolition cases and forced evictions until a pending court case on the issue has been heard.

Several local print and electronic media where represented at the meeting.

>> Killings in Bundu-Ama Community as residents resist demolitions

>> Read news reports on the displacements and demolitions collated in the SDN Newsroom

>> Video documenting the forced evictions in Njemanze community in September/October