•Vows to demolish buildings without approval

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State government has warned building developers that any building without government approval will face immediate demolition.

Thus, was stated by the Chairman and Managing Director, Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), Bar Chike Maduekwe when he led the Development Control Enforcement team to remove illegal structures at Ogbo Oroma, off Port Harcourt Road, Fegge Onitsha in Onitsha South Council area of the State.

The illegal structures include a massive perimeter fence and shanties within the fence.

Recall that the shanties were two years ago demolished on the grounds that it was obstructing the Sakamory drainage system.

But, when the staff members of the Physical Planning Board visited the site last week to warn the developer about the impending demolition of the structure, if he fails to present his Building Permit, the developer rather, used thugs and policemen that he allegedly paid to chase them away.

Speaking at the demolition site, Barr Maduekwe said government is determined to enhance welfare of the people and ensure that building environment is safe, “hence the need for people to operate within the confines of the law.”

He added: “We started with this because there was a threat to government staff using hoodlums. We have given them a window to bring their building permits, if they don’t bring it after the window (1stAugust to 31stOctober), we will enforce demolition.

“Within the window, you will not pay penalty. Bring your documents, if it’s not in order; we know. There are things you build that are not approvable. Those ones that can be approved, will be revalidated and issued an approval. The ones that can’t be approval, will be removed.

“We are going to several places. There will be a lot of enforcements next week on ‘Operation Show Your Building Permit’ consequent upon the directive of Mr Governor, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

“We have stated clearly, you cannot build anything in this state again without approval. The instruction is that we will arrest them and prosecute them before the court. Thus, anyone behind the illegal structure so demolished, shall be brought to face the full embrace of the law.”

He further attributed non-compliance to building regulations to land disputes and lack of proper documents.

While expressing concern over the financial burden of enforcement on the government, the Chairman warned developers to stop taking government’s building regulations for granted, saying that it is placed to restore sanity in the building sector and guard against incessant building collapse in the state

According to him, the Operation “Show Your Building Permit” will be replicated in other parts of the state, so as to mark a new era in building regulatory enforcement in Anambra State.

The team later went to Amobi Street around Iweka Road Onitsha to examine massive buildings and plazas under construction to know those marked for demolition and warning.

Meanwhile, the state government has suspended all building projects within the state until builders present their permits for revalidation while those without any must come for approval.