By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
The Low Income Earner Estate in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, has been allegedly hijacked by government officials, leading to issues such as illegal occupancy, lack of basic amenities, and corruption.
This situation has resulted in dissatisfaction among residents, who face problems like lack of toilets, poor road network, and inadequate water supply.
The government’s neglect and corruption have been linked to militant activities in the region, which are seen as avenues for locals to express their frustration against the government and oil companies.
Legalized corruption practices, such as excessive allowances and expense claims, further exacerbate the problem. To address these issues, there is a need for increased transparency, accountability, and inclusive citizen participation in governance and political processes
Speaking to members of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel on an under spot project tour, an occupants in the estate, Chief
Daniel Oputu a resident of Ayama Housing Estate said that his apartment belongs to one Clement Angalabiri which he rented from him.
“I’m not one of those illegal occupants, i am the chairman of this estate but let’s say about 50% of the occupants are illegal tenants because one man who calls himself the CLO illegally rented this houses to them”.
“And some persons said that he is from the ministry of Housing. His name is John Amakiri”.
According to chief oputu, over 95% of occupants in the estate don’t have toilets. “As I’m here, I’m trying to arrange toilet for myself at the back of the flat. When I came here, I paid directly to the landlord and I discovered that there is no toilet, no stair case. When I complained to him he said I should do it and I did everything including the wiring of the place but when the first payment of #100,000 expired said I should pay again which I refused and he gave me quit notice that made me relocated to this particular one”.
“We made inquiry and we were told that these houses are allocated to them by the government through the Ministry of Housing. For some of the apartments, two landlord’s are even laying claim to it. Some tenants don’t even know who is their landlord”.
He said, they are facing so many problems in the estate like the issue of toilet facilities, lights, road network, water amongst others.
“If you want to take a house here and you go to one John Amakiri at the ministry of housing, he will tell you to pay to him and he will come and allocate the place without you seeing your landlord for the next three years”.
“This place is about 200 acres of land and these are the houses that they have built. These houses are not completed even. Legally you cannot even rent a house when the house is not completed but we are managing it”.
“I have been here for three years and I’m paying about 200,000. Last year the government came that they wanted to do something, they came with caterpillars and other equipments, at the end nothing.
We have about 42 blocks by 84 flats and almost all of them are occupied”.
“I want the government to come and assist us by putting the toilet facilities, and connect light to the estate. We don’t have water except for two or three boreholes that are privately owned. Everyday we spend nothing less than 500 for fetching water with labour. We lack security. Everybody is a security officer here in the night”.
Another speaker, Gentleman Siloko said, he is occupying the flat based on rent from his landlord. “Before the commissioning there was no stair case, no toilet electrification which were supposed to be done but none. So if you pay you look for a source of light. Every land lord collect based on negotiation. But most of us are paying two bedroom flats for 250,000, 100,000″.
In her contribution, Madam Preye said, that the estate are allocated to the big men in the state. Even the places that they have dug foundation have been allocated o the big men”.
At Okaka housing estate a woman named Madam Joy Onbu said, that she came to the estate through one Philip who claimed that the brother (Akpos) was the contractor of the place.
According to her, ” I came here through Philip and he didn’t collect any money from me. When I first came, I gave the person staying in my present apartment 70,000 and since that time I have not paid anything. I also gave Philip 20,000″.
“I have been here for four years now and I’m not paying anything because he is not disturbing anybody but now he said that everybody will pay 100,000 because people are subletting the house to other people. We have steady NEPA light and we did the toilets by ourselves”.
When contacted through disguise to find out about renting a place at the Anyama Low Income Estate, Mr. John Amakiri agreed on giving out a flat at the cost of #120,000 per annum.
Amakiri said the houses has been allocated to former commissioners, members of House of Assembly and other top government officials.
He claimed to be acting on behalf of Ministry of Housing in the state.
