By Gladys Fred Kole
State Demolition Committee in Juba on Wednesday evicted squatters around the Nile Petroleum Corporation headquarters.
This demolition came into effect following the directives of the President to the Central Equatoria State Governor during the inauguration of the new Nilepet headquarters.
In March of this year, President Salva Kiir Mayardit directed the then, governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, to relocate the settlers from the vicinity of Nile Petroleum Corporation (headquarters).
Speaking after the successful demolition exercise on Wednesday, the committee’s spokesperson, Mawa A. Moses, who also doubles as Central Equatoria’s Minister of Roads and Bridges, told the media that they were glad they were able to carry out this task successfully.
“The President directed Central Equatoria State Governor Adil to ensure that there are no squatters here, and today we are glad to inform the President that we have successfully removed all the squatters around the Nilepet headquarters,” Mawa stated.
He thanked the unlawful tenant for the level of cooperation, citing that, as a committee, they are very grateful as a team that this task is done.
“We have also handed over the management of this entire place and the security of this place to the hands of Nilepet,” he added.
He further urged anybody who owns a piece of land there to immediately think of developing it to avoid squatters returning to the unoccupied lands again, as this is the rule of the land.
“To the management of Nilepet, you have to develop this place and put in a fence so that these squatters do not come back; we don’t want to see them here again,” Mawa urged.
The committee also sent an early warning message to the squatters in their next stopover locations in Mauna football grounds, Rock City, and Hai Malakal graveyard to vacate before they arrive, hence stating their commitment to executing the tasks bestowed upon them.
The Central Equatoria State Government, through the state demolition committee, led by the state security advisor, Angelo Daya, together with City Council authorities, began the demolition exercise last month.
Since then, the demolition of squatters at cemeteries and public spaces has continued to intensify in the capital, Juba.
This came after the Governor of CES formed a committee to inspect the graveyards around Juba and clear them of occupants.