Bayelsa Warns Traders, Property Owners Over Illegal Structures

The Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board has issued a final warning to traders and property owners occupying government rights-of-way with illegal structures and caravans to remove them immediately or face demolition.

The board's Executive Chairman, Kuroakegha Dorgu, said demolition exercises would continue across Yenagoa to enforce compliance with previous removal directives. The board has demolished several illegal structures around the Law School fence in Agudama-Epie, Azikoro Road and Captain Amangala Road in the state capital.

The exercise was also carried out along the Mbiama-Yenagoa Expressway and other areas where illegal structures had been identified. Traders were warned to comply with the directive or risk having their structures demolished.

Dorgu cautioned affected persons against leaving their structures and valuables within the designated rights of way, warning that the board would not be held responsible for losses or damage arising from the exercise. He said the demolition was not intended to witch-hunt individuals but to sanitise the state capital and ensure free movement of vehicles across the affected areas.

Speaking at Goodnews Junction, a trader, Faith Ebi, commended the state government for the demolition exercise, describing the area as dangerous and claiming that illegal structures had contributed to the loss of lives.

The board reiterated that the exercise would continue and urged all affected persons to comply with its directives.