Plateau Govt Urges Illegal Occupants Of OLD JUTH To Vacate Premises

Yakubu Busari

Following an interface between the Plateau State Government and the leadership of Bus transporters and their union, the former bus park at the burnt Jos modern markets was temporarily given time to adjust operation until when the government would embark on the fresh allocation of place.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State, Hon. Philemon Audu  Daffi Esq who is also the Chairman of Taskforce to evict illegal occupants of Jos University Teaching Hospital Temporary site (OLDJUTH) henceforth has urged the Transport Union to begin evacuation of their properties at the site.

Philemon Audu made the disclosure in a world press conference held at the Plateau State Ministry of Justices Jos, Yakubu Gowon Secretariat on Monday.

He disclosed that the government’s intention to give the recent an orthopedic hospital granted to the state both Governments, a befitting environment and atmosphere to operate and give the people of the north-central Political will be second to one in the country.

“You will recall, that the executive Governor on 31st of July,2023 inaugurated this committee for the Hospital to have a facility for a seamless takeoff.

And in doing that, suitable, since the Jos university teaching hospital having developed its permanent site, has handed over the state government’s property back to the state”, he said.

According to him, the committee which has weeks, was given the following terms of reference, which amongst others include:

I determine the legal occupants of the facility, if any;

ii. identifying all the illegal occupants of the facility;

iii. evicting all illegal occupants forthwith; decongesting the surrounding of all illegal structures/ occupants to ensure smooth flow of traffic within the area.

Being a listening and compassionate Government, we have deemed it necessary to let the populace know of the government’s intentions and the need to cooperate to make our goal of having a conducive environment to the hospital a reality.

Philemon stressed, “In the course of the assignment, we have met and interfaced with all the major stakeholders, and given all

the squatters /illegal occupants of the hospital and its environs an undeserved one (1) week notice of our intention to take over our facility and evict them”.

Accordingly, the chief judge of the state has already constituted a mobile court to prosecute all defaulters on the spot. Similarly, all the security agencies have been mobilized to enforce compliance and established a presence within the facility.

As such, at the expiration of the one(1) week’s notice,  which is tomorrow, Tuesday 15^th August 2023, we will commence enforcement of the notice.

Philemon stated that this action will be taken without prejudice to any person, organization or group, but in the best interest of the people of the plateau state and the north central geopolitical zone country, as well as the multiplier effects that citing such institution will bring to usual.

We cannot allow the pecuniary interest of a few to override or jeopardised of the majority general public.

This is therefore a clarion call on the it is, particularly those within and around the sold premises to cooperate and to also sound a not warning that no stone shall be left unturned for the purpose of this taskforce.

He pointed out that, It may interest you to note that in our committee’s duty, the committee found operators of uses and tricycles(keke napep)using the frontage of the hospital as their parks.

Philemon called on all and sundry to cooperate with us to enable us to deliver on this mandate.