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Forced evictions and demolitions

Government buldozers pulled down Njemanze, a residential waterfront area of Port Harcourt, during August 2009.

Learn more about the current spate of Government-led evictions and demolitions in Port Harcourt that have allready displaced thousands of people and threaten to make thousands more homeless in the coming months.

The waterfront settlements have been build up on reclaimed land by the communities who, despite having no government help, have made them into working if ramshackle townships where people work and live. The Government however portrays the areas as illegal settlements where criminals and millitants hide out, a discourse that helps justify the forced displacement.

Protests as Rivers Government fails to address tenants housing needs as demolition threat grows

2nd September 2010: Civil Society Organisations and waterfront Communities who are facing eminent eviction from their homes staged a peaceful protest during the Maiden Summit on Information at the Presidential Hotel in Port-Harcourt

Abonemma wharf to be demolished in May 2010

After a lull, the State Commissioner for Works has told local media that it will resume demolitions in one of the nineteen waterfronts - Abonemma Wharf - in May.

Court adjuorned to May 20th in the okrika vs rivers state government demolition case

Port Harcourt, 24th February - The Federal High court handling the case between the Okrika people and the Rivers State government on the case of illegal demolitions has adjourned to May 20th 2010.

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.

Killings in Bundu-Ama Community as residents resist demolitions

Nigerian police and army personnel opened fire on demonstrators in Bundu-Ama waterfront community on Monday 12 October as they tried to protect their homes from demolition by the Rivers State Government.

Njemanze waterfront demolished leaving thousands displaced

On Friday 28 August 2009 the government bulldozers finally came to Njemanze Waterfront in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Roads to Njemanze were barricaded by a large number of heavily armed security personnel from the police, the army and Joint Task Force.

Waterfront residents take Governor to court to stop the demolition of their community

The continued panic over the proposed demolition of vast areas of waterfront in Port Harcourt has taken a new turn with local people from Okrika filing a legal case against the State.