Houses erected by quacks, non-certified developerso, or bogus development control agents across Anambra State are at risk of demolition due to the state’s frequent building collapses, which are considered to be the result of bad management by building agents.
Chike Maduekwe, Chairman and Managing Director of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, stated this on Tuesday while inspecting the Abatete, Uke, and Umuoji communities in Idemili North Local Government Area.
Maduekwe also warned those who parade themselves in Anambra state as members of the Registered Engineering Council of Nigeria, moving around and collecting large sums of money from houses marked as illegal structures for demolition, to stop such behaviour.
He emphasised that when the grace period elapsed, any structure without a building permit would be pulled down and the owner charged to court.
He said, “Following the constant collapse of buildings in the state, the Anambra State Government has embarked on ‘Operation Show Your Building Permit’ aimed at sanitising the sector. Mr. Governor has told us that we should not allow any person to intimidate any official government worker anymore, and we want to send out a message to the developers. Please don’t think the government is playing.
“People are living as if we are in a lawless society. That period is over. We will no longer tolerate all those kinds of impunity where people build and say nothing will happen.
“Every building in the state without approval has been suspended, and every approval given to developers has been demanded for revalidation for the building permit because of lapses observed.
“A lot of people are taking government for granted by commencing buildings without permit. Most times, they avoid getting permits either because the land is in dispute or they don’t have the proper documents. On several occasions, our staff were harassed and threatened with all kinds of thugs; a few days ago, when they came for their official assignment at a site, they were chased away.”
He stated that there were government regulations in building that stated clearly that one could not build anything again in the state without approval.
