Land developers and building owners in Anambra State have been advised to utilize the window of opportunity created by the state government to get approval or revalidation for their building plans, before construction.
This advice was handed to developers by the Executive Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barr Chike Maduekwe during an enforcement exercise at Ogbo Oroma, off Port Harcourt Road, Feege Onitsha, where many structures were demolished.
Recall that the state government had last month ordered the suspension of all ongoing buildings in the state, for documents’ revalidation and proper approval by the state government between the month of August to December 2024.
The government had warned that buildings without approvals after the grace period will be deemed illegal and demolished.
It said while the window opportunity is open from now till December, 2024, those buildings that can be approved will be revalidated and issued approval, while those that cannot be approved will be removed.
Speaking to journalists at the site of the demolition, Barr Maduekwe frowned at the rate of non-compliance with the order by the developer of the building.
He said, “Recently, we announced several directives about ‘operation show your building permits’ and suspension of permits for every ongoing developments in the state.
“We asked those with building permits to come for revalidation and those who don’t have to come for approval.
“But what we noticed is that a lot of people take the government for granted, doing all manner of buildings without getting approval,” he said.
Maduekwe also frowned at the intimidation and harassment of the state enforcement team by some thugs and unidentified security personnel, saying “a few days ago, our staff were threatened and chased away at this place. There were all kinds of thugs, even some police officers, who we don’t know if they are fake, and the governor has said we will not allow anyone to intimidate officials of government anymore.”
The ANSPBB Chairman lamented over the cases of building collapses in the state recently, stating that full enforcement exercise will be carried out throughout the state to ensure compliance to the state building codes.
According to him, the incessant collapse of buildings and the attendant loss of lives is a big concern to the state government, and the state cannot watch while some developers erect buildings, which do not follow the state building codes and regulations.
He said “We have sent a lot of notices and messages to these people and they are ignoring it.
“People shouldn’t think the government is playing, and developers must operate according to the law.
“The built environment must be safe, and any building that commences in Anambra state without approval will be brought down, even if it is a fence.
“We will find out those behind this and they will be brought within the full embrace of the law because this enforcement exercise costs the government a lot of money.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo is trying to regenerate the state, especially Onitsha, and people are just erecting buildings without approval, that will not be tolerated anymore.”
