Rivers govt issues 48-hour demolition notice to AIT/Ray Power

River State The government has issued a 48-hour demolition notice on the transmission station owned by Daar Communications in Ozuoba, Port Harcourt.

There is Communication Plc is the owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power 106.5Fm in the country.

The state government directed Media House to clear the property on the right-of-way of the proposed GRA Phase 5 housing project, Punch newspaper reported.

The notice was contained in a letter dated March 20 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Ebere Dennis-Emenike.

“After the start of the above project, all the structures that have an impact on the right side of the project have been determined to be demolished including yourself.

“Consequently, you are hereby requested to remove the structure within forty-eight (48) hours to allow for the speedy progress of work,” Mrs Dennis-Emenike said in the letter.

The Kali government has been involved in a long-running land dispute with Daar Communications and in September last year threatened to demolish the property.

Ray Dokpesi, chairman of Daar Communications did not respond to a request for comment on the matter when contacted.

NUJ reacted

At Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State in reaction to the demolition news urged the state government to engage Daar Komunikasi in peace talks to resolve the dispute.

The union said it would not like to see media houses in the country dismantled over land disputes that could be resolved peacefully.

“The union said that while appreciating the State Government’s urban renewal policy, they are asking the government to be fair with mercy. We are calling on the Rivers State Government to review the termination notice given to Daar Communications Plc, the owner of AIT Radio Station and Raypower.

Also Read: Daar Communications turns first profit in nine years

The Chairman of NUJ Rivers, Stanley Job and Secretary, Ike Wigodo made the appeal in a joint statement after the state government issued the demolition notice on the media outfit.

“The Press and the Rivers State Government have come a long way as partners moving forward. We believe that proper negotiation and peaceful resolution of the land dispute will serve the government and the people of Rivers State better.

“Whatever the merits of the termination notice by the Rivers State Government to Daar Communications Plc, we do not want the world to see a press war with the Rivers State Government because of our longstanding relationship,” the union said. .