Marine Base is one of the slum settlements in central Port Harcourt. The settlement, which covers about 7,338 metres, is not very far from the three-arm-zone in the Rivers State capital, where the Government House, state House of Assembly, Appeal Court and the headquarters of the state police command are located.
Despite its closeness to the three-arm-zone, the settlement, which is surrounded by creeks, is dotted with shanties and all kinds of makeshift structures.
The settlement provides accommodation to low income earners who could not afford the high cost of apartments in the main city centre of Port Harcourt.
The settlement is characterised by filthy and unkempt environment as many of the residents do not have good toilet facilities in their houses. It is also bereft of basic amenities, such as pipe-borne water and steady electricity supply.
Residents use makeshift planks erected atop the creek to answer nature’s call.
Our correspondent learnt that some of the makeshift toilets were constructed by the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area to ease the suffering of residents who could not afford the luxury of constructing one in their houses.
The densely populated area is noted for its high crime rate as most of the criminals that terrorise the capital city and its environs are said to reside in the area.
The Nigerian Army had, on several occasions, raided the area in search of cultists who take shelter in the area.
Despite the inhabitable nature of the settlement, residents appear not to be bothered about its filthiness and lack of basic amenities.
Some of the residents who spoke with our correspondent said they had no option than settling in the area because they could not afford the high rent in Port Harcourt metropolis.
A resident of the area, Tamuno Micheal, said he had lived in the settlement since 1999.
“Marine Base is a settlement for low income earners. I have been here since 1999. The area may not be good for everybody, but we have no choice than to continue to stay here.
“There are so many problems we are facing, such as poor basic amenities like pipe-borne water.
“The Port Harcourt City Council had in the past provided boreholes in some areas while those that had money dug some for commercial and personal use,” he said.
Another resident, James Johnson, said many of the residents had no option than to stay in the area because of the high rent in the city.
“Many of the residents here are low income earners who cannot afford the high cost of rent in Port Harcourt metropolis. The environment may not look good, but we have no choice than to continue to live here.
“One of the major challenges we have is poor toilet facilities. The Port Harcourt City Council had in the past provided makeshift toilets that many of the residents are using now,” he said.
Another resident of the area who pleaded anonymity said also said, “Before now, this settlement was a hideout for notorious criminals and cultists. There were rival cult clashes in the area before government moved in to chase many of them out. The place is calm now and residents are moving about their normal businesses,” he said.
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