Anambra State Government Joint Task Force has cautioned developers to strictly comply with the physical planning laws of the state.
The task force gave the caution when its members embarked on enforcement against illegal structures at Akwu Edoji, Uruagu in Nnewi North Local Government Area, where some developers built structures on access roads, thereby obstructing further developments in the area.
One of such structures is a duplex still under construction, and which blocked a major access road, obstructing further developments in a vast virgin land behind it.
Armed with an excavator and other earth moving machines, the team pulled down the building, including other structures such as gate houses, shops, fences erected on access roads around the layout.
Almost all the buildings in the axis visited bore red markings of warnings to the developers, even while they were still at foundation level, but the developers remained adamant and continued their developments.
Some residents of the areas who spoke to the ABS behind the camera, lamented waste of money used in building structures without approval from relevant authorities, noting that if the developers had sought approval, they would have been given proper explanation about the place.
Addressing journalists after the exercise at the headquarters of Anambra State Physical Planning Board in Amawbia, the Chairman of the Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe, explained that the enforcement is routinely carried out at different zones to ensure compliance with town planning laws and control land development in the state, stressing that the location at Uruagu is a government approved layout, which master plan has been bastardized.
While recalling that staff of the board were beaten up when they visited the area to carry out enforcement,Barrister Maduekwe reiterated that it is not the intention of government to inflict hardship on citizens or residents of the state, adding that laws are meant to be obeyed, otherwise, there are sanctions for noncompliance.
He noted that the Soludo administration is committed to ensuring that the state does not develop into a slum, stating that anyone who complies with the law is always protected, and that government is set up to make sure that the interest of the greatest number of people is protected.
Barrister Maduekwe recalled that Anambra State Government had banned youths from collecting money from people who buy land, adding that it’s enforcement will be very strict, and that Governor Soludo’s commitment to building a liveable and prosperous homeland has become shared responsibilities of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the state government.
He appealed to Ndi Anambra to support the government by ensuring that they do not build on access roads or drainages, and equally ensure that their building plans are approved, adding that some people will appear in court over noncompliance, and if found guilty, will go to jail.
According to a government paper drawing perfected in 2015, the land covering eighty-seven point eight two hectares was approved in 2017 and gazetted in 2019 as Layout.
Comments are closed for this post.