Recent investigations reveal that housing estates intended for low-income earners, constructed by the Bayelsa State government, have allegedly been taken over by government officials and political leaders.
The Anyama Low Income Estate Phase 1, built during the tenure of former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, lacks basic amenities such as internal roads, toilet facilities, electricity, and security. Despite its incomplete state, it was hastily commissioned before Dickson left office on February 12, 2020.
The current administration, led by Governor Douye Diri, has reportedly neglected the estate since assuming office. During a tour conducted by members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, it was discovered that both the Anyama and Okaka Phase 2 estates were occupied by illegal tenants.
These occupants claimed to have rented the properties from government officials and politicians who assert ownership.
Chief Daniel Oputu, a resident of the Anyama Housing Estate, disclosed that he rented his apartment from someone named Clement Angalabiri, paying an annual fee of N200,000. Oputu highlighted the dire living conditions within the estate, including the absence of essential facilities like toilets, electricity, and potable water.
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He also raised concerns about the ambiguity surrounding property ownership, with multiple individuals laying claim to the same properties.
Similar issues were reported at the Okaka Housing Estate, where residents claimed to have been coerced into paying rent to unauthorized individuals. Madam Joy Onbu, a trader in the area, revealed that she had been living in the estate for four years without paying rent until recently, when a demand for payment was made. Despite the presence of electricity, residents had to manage without proper toilet facilities, which they had to construct themselves.
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Further investigation revealed that individuals posing as representatives of the Ministry of Housing were collecting rent from tenants. One such individual, identified as Mr. John Amakiri, admitted to allocating flats for N120,000 per annum, claiming that the properties had been allocated to former commissioners, members of the House of Assembly, and other government officials.
The situation highlights the dire need for intervention by the government to address the plight of residents in these estates. Essential amenities must be provided, and measures should be taken to ensure transparency in property ownership to prevent further exploitation of low-income earners.
