AMNESTY International has alleged that the Rivers State government is not complying with its Physical Planning and Development Law of 2003 in the renewed demolition of waterfronts in Port Harcourt.

The group's Director of Africa Programme, Erwin van der Borght, in a statement yesterday, claimed that under the law, the state government ought to establish an "Urban Renewal Board," which would then declare the waterfront communities an "improvement area."

Borght's allegation came amid the fear that hundreds of people, mostly women and children, might be left homeless if the state government went ahead to demolish their homes for a commercial development project.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi had last week reiterated that the waterfronts would be demolished to minimise or eradicate crime in the state.

According to him, the waterfronts are havens for crime.

"Lives are being lost daily. We can only redevelop to better the life and property. We would continue with our policy of buying back the property at the waterfronts at commercial and current price to enable our people provide an alternative accommodation and be proud owners of their own decent and habitable accommodation and environment", Amaechi had said.

But Borght asserted that the state Physical Planning and Development Law (2003) required the government to provide alternative housing for all the occupants affected, which the state had not done.

The Amnesty director explained that information received by the group revealed that houses along the Njemanze Road in Port Harcourt were due to be demolished.

Borght said the tenants of the houses were only given seven days' notice to vacate their homes and businesses, adding that panic had set into the community, with residents desperately trying to salvage what they can.

Amnesty noted that many of the tenants have nowhere to go and most are unable to afford the large deposit necessary to rent new homes.

"The buildings under threat stretch along approximately two kilometres of road and will be demolished to give access to the site of the previously demolished Njemanze waterfront community".

Borght said the state government was only permitted to carry out evictions as a last resort. He further said that "they are obliged, in every case, to explore all feasible alternatives to eviction and avoid or minimise the use of force.

"The governor of Rivers State should call an immediate halt to the planned demolitions, respect the rights of the residents to adequate and reasonable notice of any eviction, and ensure that all those effected receive adequate alternative housing and that no one is rendered homeless".

According to UN-HABITAT, eviction of inhabitants of Njamanze, Abonnema and surrounding areas, are to make way for a development called "Silverbird Showtime."

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the state government and Silverbird agreed to ensure "peaceful evacuation and relocation of present occupants".

As part of its demand dignity campaign, launched in May 2009, Amnesty International is calling on governments globally to prohibit and prevent forced evictions and provide adequate housing for residents.