Anambra Gov’t Intensifies Crackdown On Unapproved, Dangerous Structures
The Anambra government has vowed to demolish unapproved structures and prosecute owners of such buildings for gross violation of the law.
Mr Chike Maduekwe, Managing Director of Anambra State Physical Planning Board (AnPPB) said this at the continued demolition exercise in Nkisi Layout, Onitsha on Thursday.
Maduekwe said the State government had commenced operation zero tolerance for shanties in Trans Nkisi and would not spare any violator no matter their status in the society.
He said the owners of the shops were given early notices to evacuate their wares and leave the places but they had repeatedly ignored the order.
Maduekwe said the operation was neither selective nor personal adding that there was no truth in the claim that AnPPB invaded or encroached the premises of a national media house.
“We started our zero tolerance for shanties last week even though we faced resistance, we are in Trans Nkisi again because it is a government prime land and we are continuing from where we stopped.
“AnPPB Law, no.9, 2013 requires that builders must come for an approval, the reason is to determine if the land belongs to him, if the building is consistent with the scheme and its structural integrity
“We did not enter the premises of NTA, we moving to clear every shanty that has been marked in this layout, we are not selective, it is not personal,” he said.
Earlier in Enekwasumpu, Obosi area, the enforcement team led by the Managing Director successfully completed the demolition of structure erected on a canal.
The team also razed an ongoing one-story within the premises for lack of approval and posing threat to lives and property in the neighborhood.
The Managing Director summoned the owner of the structure who had been at large to come and defend his actions insisting that he must face the law and be made to bear the cost of enforcement.
“Somebody built on top of a canal, we marked it and he continued, if we allow it to stand, flood will overrun the area and that will be
a disaster,” he said.
