•••Warns Developers Against Erecting Structures Without Approvals
By Kamsi Anayo
The 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 it took enforcement against illegal structures to Akwu Edoji, Uruagu in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state, where some developers built structures on access roads, thereby obstructing further developments in the area.
One of such structures is an ongoing duplex which blocked a major access road, obstructing further developments in a vast virgin land behind it.
The team pulled down the building and other structures such as gate houses, shops, fences and others, 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 with their structures.
Some of the residents in the location wondered why people spend a lot of money to build without approval.
Shortly after the exercise at the Board’s Headquarters in Amawbia, the Chairman of Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe revealed that the enforcement is a routine one being carried out from zone to zone to enforce town planning laws and ensure that development in the state is controlled.
He stressed that the location is a government approved layout, whose master plan has been bastardized by some people.
He recalled that a few times that staff of the board went there to carry out enforcement activities, they were beaten up.
He explained that while it is not the intention of government to inflict hardship on citizens of the state, laws are meant to be obeyed without which there will be consequences.
Maduekwe noted that the present 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.
He pointed out that government is set up to make sure that the interest of the people is protected and secured.
He recalled that the State Executive Council has taken a decision to ban the practice where people buy land only for the youths wit demand money from them.
He added that Governor Soludo’s commitment to build a liveable prosperous homeland has been mainstreamed into the responsibilities of all MDAs.