The Borno State Government has marked at least 1,300 houses standing on waterways and river banks in the state capital, Maiduguri, for demolition.
The Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service, Adam Bababe, warned that illegal structures built on waterways have to give way.
According to him, 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 an 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 said.
He, therefore, harped on the need for residents to stop building on areas that are not suitable for the construction of houses especially waterways and river banks, noting that those who acquired illegal lands and built on them should know that the consequence is demolition without compensation.