THE National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) is taking decisive action to remove squatters living on its land at its 5-Mile headquarters in Port Moresby.
The state broadcaster’s Managing Director, Kora Nou, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to illegal settlers living on institutional land, telling them to pack up and move voluntarily or face a forceful police eviction.
The warning comes on the back of a weekend attack on the son of a senior NBC staff member.
He was physically assaulted within the headquarters’ vicinity, leaving him hospitalized and sparking a formal police complaint.
Mr. Nou wants the attackers identified and handed over to police immediately.
“We have re-established communication with the Metropolitan Superintendent and officers have been asked to carry out awareness among these illegal squatters so they can voluntarily move out within these 21 days,” Mr. Nou said.
“Failure to do so will result in NBC requesting the courts and police to evict them,” Mr. Nou added.
The situation highlights a growing security concern for public servants living on site.
According to the Managing Director, instances of harassment, physical attacks, and unruly drunken behavior have surged around the 5-Mile staff residences. He links the spike directly to an influx of informal settlers spilling over from recent urban eviction exercises elsewhere in the capital.
“May I remind everyone that the officers of the NBC throughout the country provide an essential service to our people every day, on weekends, and public holidays,” Mr. Nou stated.
“These officers and their families do not deserve such unprovoked physical attacks or daily intimidation as they carry out their work, especially within the confines of our institutional housing premises.”
Mr. Nou said NBC is now joining forces with the courts, the police, and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to push back against the lawlessness and clear the land.
Beyond security concerns, the clearing of the settlement paves the way for stalled institutional development.
Mr. Nou said the removal of the illegal squatters is consistent with an NBC Board decision to further develop the land.
“Funding for 38 staff houses has already been secured and NBC is only awaiting the issuance of a building permit to begin construction at 5-Mile,” Mr. Nou said.
“The land presently occupied by these illegal squatters is an integral part of this major development plan,” Mr. Nou said.
