The demolished structures.
| credits: Simon Utebor
| credits: Simon Utebor
Bayelsa State Capital City Development Authority has demolished some structures of a popular night club, Bolex.
During the operation, which lasted for some hours, the CCDA officials destroyed over six car ports, perimeter fence, chairs, erected concretised pavements, riser beams and other equipment used for car wash.
Bolex is a known brand and has existed in Yenagoa for about six years before a big hotel, believed to be owned by a top government figure, was constructed close to it.
It has a business mix of a car wash, open bar and a night club. Bolex also has over 150 people in its employ. It was a shadow of itself when our correspondent visited the scene.
Fun seekers and workers told our correspondent that the action was insensitive, wondering why a government wooing investors into the state could wreak such havoc without prior notification.
They said the agency chose a few days after business experts, tourists and politicians from Nigeria and around the world gathered in Yenagoa for the first Investment and Economic Forum hosted by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to demolish Bolex.
It was learnt that officials of the CCDA had come for the exercise with a truckload of armed policemen.
Bolex Manager, Mr. Preye Boligha, said, “We do not understand the reason behind this destruction. Bolex is a genuine business. We wash cars, run a snacks bar, club and night bars. This is a business that has given employment to about 150 jobless people. We are still waiting for them to explain the reason behind this action.”
Bolex appeared to be the only business concern destroyed by officials of the CCDA. Similar businesses sighted close to the expressway were spared.
The Manager said, “We don’t have a problem with the government. No part of our premises was marked for demolition and no prior notice of the destruction was given to us. We do not owe the government because we pay all our dues and taxes to the government.”
The Director and founder of Bolex, Amos Boligha, said he lost over N6m to the destruction.
He said, “I was not around when it happened. I was at the airport when I got information that members of the CCDA were here. This is the business I have been operating for the past six years here.
“We conform to the government laid down rules. There is nothing illegal and we make sure we conform to the rules of the land. If the CCDA has any issue with any part of our premises, they should have at least given us a notice.”
An employee, who craved anonymity, said, “When we go to the government for jobs, they close their door behind us and tell us there is no job. But Bolex has given us jobs and the same government has come to take them away.
“There is no worker here that earns below N30,000 monthly. This is where I have been making a living and taking care of my wife and five children.”
Also, Mr. Ziki Charles, who works as a security man at Bolex said, “I am surprised at what the CCDA did today. I am angry with the government.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the Executive Secretary of CCDA, Idaba Eje, through his mobile phone were not successful as his phone indicated “no connection” many times.
However, Eje, while defending the action of the CCDA on a local radio station, said it was carried out to rid the state of illegal structures.
