Civic organization group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has warned Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to immediately withdraw his purported 48-hour notice to demolish the building of AIT/Raypower television and radio stations in Port Harcourt, or face legal action.
SERAP in a statement issued on Friday warned that such attacks on the media must stop.
Governor Wike’s government had issued a 48-hour notice to DAAR Communications, owners of the African Independent Television/Raypower to remove its property on the right of way of its proposed housing project in the GRA Phase 5 area of Port Harcourt..
Wike said that failure to remove the property, his government would demolish the transmission station of the AIT and Raypower in Ozuoba, on the outskirts of Port Harcourt.
The governor through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Dennis-Emenike, issued the notice in a letter titled, “Proposed GRA Phase 5 Ozuoba, Port Harcourt demolition notice,” and dated March 20, 2023.
In the letter, the government said the property should be removed.
It reads: “Following the imminent commencement of the above project, all structure(s) impacting on the Right-of-way of the project have been earmarked for demolition including your own.
“Consequently, you are by this notice requested to remove such structure(s) within forty-eight (48) hours to allow for speedy progress of work.”
However, SERAP in its reaction to the notice wrote: “Rivers State must immediately withdraw its purported 48-hour notice to demolish the building of AIT/Raypower television and radio stations in Port Harcourt, or face legal action.
“This blatant attack on media freedom must stop.”