COVID-19 Lockdown: SERAP Condemns Demolition of Hotels by Rivers Govt, Vows to Challenge Action in Court

Matilda Omonaiye/

A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP) has faulted the decision of the Rivers State government to demolish two hotels in the state for allgedly violating the COVID-19 lockdown order.

Governo Nyesom Wike had imposed a lockdown and directed all hotels in the state to suspend services immediately as parts of measures  to check the spread of COVID-19. supervised

The two hotels, Prodest Hotel, Eleme, and Etemeteh Hotel, Onne, were reportedly pulled down on the orders of the state government this afternoon for flouting the order.

Governor Nyesom Wike was reported to have personally supervised the demolition of one of the affected hotels.

But SERAP in statement shared via Twitter described the governor’s action as “executive rascality” and a violation of the rights of the owners and occupants of the hotels.

SERAP said, “We condemn the reported demolition of Prodest Hotel by Gov Wike, Rivers State.

“Using COVID-19 to perpetrate human rights violations is executive rascality & Mr Wike must stop this now.

“We’re taking legal action to hold him & his govt. to account for illegal actions.

“The demolition of Prodest Hotel is forced evictions and in violation of article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”

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