Borno State Government on Wednesday said 1,300 houses standing on waterways and river banks in the state capital, Maiduguri, have been marked for demolition.
Parts of the state capital in the last two months have been submerged by floods.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service, Adam Bababe, said the situation calls for urgent attention and illegal structures built on waterways have to give way.
He said, “There is nothing like witch-hunting or religious sentiment in the demolition exercise. We had fruitful discussions with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Borno and they showed understanding that the action is to save homes from being submerged by flood.
“Over 1300 houses that are built on waterways have been marked for demolition. If we leave the houses that way without removal, many houses in the metropolis will be submerged by flood.”
He urged residents to stop building on areas that are not suitable for construction of houses especially waterways and river banks, while warning those who acquired illegal lands and built on them should know that the consequence is demolition without compensation.
