The Rivers State Government has issued an eviction notice to Daar Communications, the owners of African Independent Television/Ray Power, to vacate the land on which its Port Harcourt transmission station is located, or face demolition within 48 hours.
The notice, which was issued on March 20, 2023, by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Dennis-Emenike, cited the imminent commencement of a project and the need to remove all structures that impact on the right-of-way.
The decision is believed to be the result of a long-standing political feud between Governor Nyesom Wike and Daar Communications owner, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
However, the governor has denied any political motivation, stating that AIT/Ray Power has no title to the expansive premises it occupies in the Rivers state capital city.
In response to the eviction notice, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the state government to reconsider the decision and engage in dialogue with Daar Communications for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
The NUJ Rivers State Council issued a statement appealing to the government to review the notice, stating that the press and the Rivers State government have a long-standing partnership, and a peaceful resolution would be in the interest of both parties.
