Rivers plans urban renewal to restore ‘Garden City’ status

The Rivers State Government has unveiled plans to carry out urban renewal and also restore the capital, Port Harcourt to its Garden City status.

Amairigha Edward Hart, Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, made this known, on Monday, during a tour of Port Harcourt City.

This is comeing as Port Harcourt’s famous ‘Garden City’ status has continued to be daily threatened by growing refuse heaps and unauthorised real estate developments.

Hart said the urban renewal initiative would champion a new culture of asset protection among citizens and combat willful saboteurs of physical development in the state.

Boma Waribor, the Press Secretary, had said the commissioner frowned at indiscriminate street trading, display of goods beyond property boundaries, and the illegal conversion of public spaces to business premises in the State capital.

Hart noted that the section beneath the Garrison flyover would be redesigned to serve as a car park as well as drop-off, and pick-up points for commercial vehicles, in a bid to control roadside vehicular activities, loitering, and criminality.

“We will utilise the vast space beneath the flyover to serve as a pick-up and drop-off zone for commercial vehicles, and the current roadside operations will be replaced with recreational greenery and concrete seats,” he said.

Hart made similar observations during stopovers at Rumuola and Artillery flyovers, First Bank Junction, Aba Road stretch, Eliozu, Obiri Ikwerre flyover, Airport Roundabout, and Choba Junction.

He said his Ministry would replicate the Garrison improvements across flyovers along Aba Road, adding that it wouldl include the creation of new bus stops and renovation of existing ones within the city.

“What we have seen around Garrison, Rumuola, First Bank Junction, the entire stretch of Artillery up to Rumuibekwe, Eliozu Road, Obiri Ikwerre flyover, Airport roundabout, and Choba Junction is an eyesore, to say the least.

“People are obstructing walkways and streets, especially Sangana area and Creek Road for their private enterprise, encroaching beyond the high-tension poles, displaying goods on the medians, leveraging random roadside spots for bus stops, erecting and inhabiting shanties, as we saw around Obiri Ikwerre Flyover, which is now a suspected criminal den.

“In fact, we were shocked to find that the entire right flank by the roundabout, on exiting the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa has been converted to a motor park with huge nauseating sights,” he said.

To remedy the situation, Hart said, “We will establish new bus stops, renovate the existing ones, barricade the medians with good rails, and plant flowers in them. Public spaces, in general, require beautification and proper management; hence, we’ll do a holistic job to upscale the physical ambiance of the State.”

He added that notices would be issued to defaulting traders, artisans, and illegal space occupants, followed by eviction and compliance enforcement.

According to him, where possible, the State Government would provide alternative sites for traders.

Hart highlighted his ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the University of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Council to nip the Choba riotous trading and chaotic commercial vehicular activities in the bud.

He urged residents to imbibe a culture of doing the right thing in their daily endeavours and to respect public assets and spaces.

Hart also assured that the Garden City restoration exercise “will be implemented with a human face, as exemplified by the governor of Rivers State, Amopusenibo Sir Siminalayi Fubara.”

The commissioner was accompanied on the tour by Soibitein Harry, the Permanent Secretary, directors, compliance enforcement officers of the Ministry and other staff.