The firm handling the construction of the Jos Inland Container Depot (LCD) has bemoaned the action taken by the Plateau state Government in demolishing its structures at the building site in Heipang.

Godfrey Shitgurum who is the Group General Manager of Duncan Group of Companies handling the project stated that the demolition took place despite the fact that there was a court injunction from the Federal High Court restraining the state Government from carrying out the act.

The firm handling the construction of the Jos Inland Container Depot (LCD) has bemoaned the action taken by the Plateau state Government in demolishing its structures at the building site in Heipang.

Godfrey Shitgurum who is the Group General Manager of Duncan Group of Companies handling the project stated that the demolition took place despite the fact that there was a court injunction from the Federal High Court restraining the state Government from carrying out the act.

He added that the court injunction was fully served on the Plateau state Ministry of Justice and the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) on July 21, 2014 and was received by one Hauwa Samuel and Christiana Bot respectively.

The General Manager said “It has become imperative for us at Duncan Maritime Ventures Limited to state our position following the destruction of our facilities at the Jos Inland Container Depot, Heipang by the Plateau State government through its agency, the JMDB.”

“This is done with the view to putting the record straight and disabuses certain misconception. Since the inception of the Jos ICD project, transactions have been between Duncan Maritime and the Federal Government through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Transport and had never had any direct contact with the Plateau State government.”

Shitgurum added “without any information from either the Ministry of Transport or the Nigerian Shipper’s Council, the JMDB moved into their site and destroyed the company’s property.” He said that the gate of the complex which was at 86 per cent completion and the administrative block also at 45 per cent completion as well as over 26,000 blocks, timber and several other items were destroyed.

The General Manager said, “the Federal Government’s idea of setting up the ICDs was to bring the facilities closer to the majority of Nigerians at the hinterland, as well as reduce the cost of clearing of goods, lower the prices of commodities, reduce unemployment rate as well as facilitate development in the benefiting states among others.”

count | 24

Jos Inland Container demolition: Construction firm bemoans Plateau state Government’s action